The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the United Nations agreement to conserve and sustainably use earth’s biodiversity, got a boost at a conference held in Montreal recently
Key takeaway:
- 188 of 196 member governments agreed on a new framework to halt the sharp and steady loss of biological species
- These governments adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)
Biodiversity importance:
- Species on earth:
- biodiversity signifies the variety of species on earth, which sustain the balance of ecosystems, enabling humans to coexist.
- The CBD states that only about 1.75 million species have been identified, including numerous insects, which may extend 13 million.
- Ecosystem services:
- Ecosystem services rendered by diverse living forms, of which plants and animals are the most visible, include providing humans with food, fuel, fibre, shelter, building materials, air and water purification, stabilisation of climate, pollination of plants including those used in agriculture, and moderating the effects of flood, drought, extreme temperatures and wind.
- A disruption of these produces severe impacts such as failed agriculture, aberrant climate patterns and cascading losses of species that accelerate the degradation of earth.
Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES):
According to IPBES, a quarter of the plants and animals are threatened, that is one million species facing extinction.
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework:
- About:
- The 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) held in Montreal in December 2022 adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
- The GBF includes four goals and 23 targets to address biodiversity loss and restore natural ecosystems by 2030.
- The GBF was agreed upon by representatives of 188 governments, including 95% of all Parties to the CBD, the United States and the Vatican.
- Targets:
- Protecting at least 30% of the world’s land, water, coastal, and marine areas
- Restoring at least 30% of degraded terrestrial, inland water, coastal, and marine ecosystems
- Reducing or eliminating the loss of areas with high biodiversity importance
- Cutting global food waste in half and reducing overconsumption and waste
- Reducing the use of pesticides and hazardous chemicals by half
- Phasing out or reforming subsidies that harm biodiversity by at least USD 500 billion per year and scaling up incentives for conservation and sustainable use
- Mobilising at least USD 200 billion per year in funding from all sources for biodiversity-related causes
- Increasing international financial flows to developing countries to at least USD20 billion per year by 2025 and at least USD 30 billion per year by 2030
- Preventing the introduction of invasive species and reducing the establishment of other known or potentially invasive species
- Requiring large and transnational companies to disclose their risks and impacts on biodiversity.
- Funding:
- Presently, the Global Environment Facility caters to multiple conventions, including the UNFCCC and UN Convention to Combat Desertification.
- It remains the only source of funding for biodiversity conservation right now.
- By 2030, the GBF hopes to see at least $200 billion raised per year from all sources domestic, international, public and private towards implementation of the national action plans.
- In terms of international funding, developing countries should get at least $20 billion a year by 2025 and at least $30 billion by 2030 through contributions from developed countries.
Four Overarching Goals of the GBF:
- Goal A:
- The integrity, connectivity and resilience of all ecosystems are maintained, enhanced, or restored, substantially increasing the area of natural ecosystems by 2050;
- Human-induced extinction of known threatened species is halted, and, by2050.
- The genetic diversity within populations of wild and domesticated species is maintained, safeguarding their adaptive potential.
- Goal B:
- Biodiversity is sustainably used and managed, and nature’s contributions to people, including ecosystem functions and services, will be valued, maintained and enhanced by 2050.
- Goal C:
- The monetary and non-monetary benefits from the utilisation of genetic resources, digital sequence information on genetic resources, and traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources, as applicable, are shared fairly and equitably
- Indigenous peoples and local communities and substantially to be increased by 2050
- Ensuring traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources is appropriately protected.
- Goal D:
- Adequate means of implementation, including financial resources, capacity-building, and technical and scientific cooperation.
- Access to and transfer of technology to fully implement the Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity framework are secured and equitably accessible to all Parties, especially developing countries.
- Closing the biodiversity finance gap of $700 billion per year
- Aligning financial flows with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity.
Conclusion:
- The Framework hopes to arrest the ongoing loss of terrestrial and marine biodiversity.
- It means people around the world can hope for real progress to halt biodiversity loss and protect and restore our lands and seas in a way that safeguards our planet and respects the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities.
Pic Courtesy: The Hindu
Content Source: The Hindu