UN Biodiversity COP16 – turning targets into reality

Why the conversation on biodiversity needs to be amplified 

Addressing the triple planetary crisis—climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss—requires a shift in how we integrate biodiversity into economic and business models. Traditionally, biodiversity conservation has been left on the peripheral, with responsibility put on the shoulders of NGOs and philanthropists.  

Biodiversity covers multiple ecosystems, plants and animals; from forests to oceans, deserts to icefields, making it difficult for national plans to set a strategic focus and mobilise funding.  

However, as biodiversity declines faster than any other time in history, conversations and importantly, action, must be put front and centre in order to make clear the interconnectedness of biodiversity with economic stability and human well-being, fulfilling the need for food security, medicines, fresh air and water, shelter, and a clean and healthy environment.  

In 2002, the Convention on Biological Diversity committed to achieve a significant reduction of the rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national level, as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on Earth by 2010. However, these commitments were not met as analysis showed in more than 30 indicators no evidence of a significant reduction in the rate of decline of biodiversity. 

Updated targets did not achieve greater success. In a study published in April, researchers from the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) conducted the first high-level analysis of countries’ policy pledges for nature and subsequent reporting of actions taken under the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its Aichi biodiversity targets. 

The large gap in information on reporting identified by the researchers, shows how much uncertainty there is about the extent to which commitments to nature are being carried out. They discovered nearly half (44 per cent) of traceable commitments from national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs) could not be linked to evidence of actions taken in their follow-up progress reports. 

To make sure policymakers know as much as possible about the progress countries are making in Biodiversity Plan, the authors of the study called for the process between commitments being made, carried out, and evaluated to be clearer.  

The researchers highlight the need for a clear, standardised process to ensure robust national monitoring of actions under the Biodiversity Plan. They also call for the commitments that have been made up to now to be translated into actions. 

Now, two years after the COP15 UN Biodiversity Conference, where the world’s nations committed to conserve at least 30% of the Earth’s land, freshwater, and ocean by 2030, only 2.8% of the ocean is assessed as likely to be effectively protected, reveals a report launched by a consortium of nature NGOs and funders ahead of COP16, which began on Monday.  

Biodiversity COP16 and the Biodiversity Action Plan 

This year’s Biodiversity Conference presents an opportunity to break the pattern of talking but not walking. Marking two years since the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted, COP16 has been referenced to as the 'Implementation COP', as negotiations focus on finalising and agreeing on mechanisms for implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework.  

Colombia is an appropriate setting for this Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP, being one the world’s megadiverse countries. The Colombia Pavilion was opened on Monday with the launch of the country’s Biodiversity Action Plan for 2030, an environmental public policy instrument that consolidates six national goals to contribute to the fulfillment of the 23 goals of the Global Biodiversity Framework. These six national goals have 191 actions to address the loss of biodiversity in Colombia by 2030. 

Parties were required to report their nature conservation plans to the UN ahead of the opening of COP16 on Monday. NBSAPs are submitted and tracked on a transparent, online platform. It currently shows 2602 national targets in line with the Global Biodiversity Framework submitted by 112 countries. 

Biodiversity at COP29 and the Climate Action Innovation Zone 

Moving forward, integrating biodiversity and nature into climate change policies, strategies, and actions is essential. Both Party and non-Party stakeholders need to work towards an integrated mindset across key touchpoints in the climate calendar to ensure a holistic solution to the triple planetary crisis.  

Finance and implementation go hand-in-hand.  The lessons learnt at the climate negotiations due to take place at COP29, particularly regarding collaboration and the mobilisation of finance, can offer valuable insights for biodiversity conservation efforts, in particular with regards to closing the biodiversity finance gap.  

On 21 November, the thematic day will draw focus to the fact that Indigenous Peoples preserve 80% of the world's biodiversity and 36% of intact forest landscapes. Whilst there is currently no specific declaration on nature and biodiversity set out by the COP29 Presidency, the Declaration on Reducing Methane from Organic Waste will work to streamline work towards 1.5 °C -aligned waste sector commitments in national climate policy documents. The declaration will have quantified targets to reduce methane in waste and food systems, thus protecting biodiversity by reducing ground-level ozone pollution and impacts from rising temperatures. 

The Climate Action Innovation Zone’s Agri-Food Systems Summit on 15 November will host a Future Food Systems Hackathon, harnessing the collective expertise of an audience that encompasses leaders from across the agri-food ecosystem. Enhancing biodiversity and harnessing indigenous knowledge will be key threads through discussions ranging from scaling low-tech and ancestral solutions for resilient agriculture, empowering youth and women for climate-resilient agri-food systems, to ensuring transparency in the agri-food transition.  

To find out more about the Innovation Zone and how to get involved: Climate Action Innovation Zone