The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: what will happen at COP16?

In 2022, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was agreed to halt global biodiversity loss. This year, from 21 October to 1 November, the ^16th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16) will take place in Cali, Colombia. This Conference of the Parties (COP) will look at countries’ progress in implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework and what is needed to meet the 2030 targets. In this blog, we dive deeper into what the Global Biodiversity Framework means, what to expect from the upcoming conference and how individual countries can contribute to the goals.

Header photo: Valle de Cocora, Colombia © Nicolas Pratlong via Unsplash

What is the biodiversity crisis?

Globally, the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) estimates that one million species are threatened with extinction ^[1]IPBES (2019). Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. https://www.ipbes.net/global-assessment. Also, almost half of the 2810 ecosystems studied by IUCN are threatened ^[2]IUCN (2023). Red List of Ecosystems https://iucnrle.org and 20-40% of the global land area is degraded ^[3]UNCCD (2022). Global Land Outlook 2. https://www.unccd.int/resources/global-land-outlook/glo2 . Moreover, the area of wetlands has decreased by 35% since 1970 and many marine habitats are not thriving. These losses affect not only the intrinsic value of nature, but also the benefits that nature provides to people, such as health and stability of planetary processes^[4]UN (2021). World Ocean Assessment II https://www.un.org/regularprocess/woa2launch. The main global causes of the biodiversity crisis are changes in land use and the unsustainable use of species and ecosystems.

What is the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework?

To halt global biodiversity loss, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF) was concluded at the ^15th Conference of Parties of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in 2022. The KM-GBF contains 23 targets for urgent action that together cover all key steps with the aim of halting global biodiversity loss and restoring biodiversity by 2030 with the ultimate goal of living in harmony with nature by 2050. Besides halting biodiversity loss itself, the agreement also focuses on securing nature’s services for humans, equitably sharing the benefits of biodiversity use, and the financing needed to meet the targets. Actions to meet the targets must be completed by 2030.

The targets in the KM-GBF are based on the scientific findings and recommendations of the IPBES.

• Read more about the Global Biodiversity Framework

How do we ensure the targets are achieved?

The extent to which the targets will be met will depend on the ambition and speed with which the agreements in the KM-GBF are transposed into national laws, regulations, and other policies that ensure concrete action and change. For this, national strategies, and action plans, called National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), need to be formulated. These are national policy documents that countries prepare to fulfil their commitments under the KM-GBF. These plans contain strategies and actions specific to the national context and priorities for biodiversity conservation.

‘The Global Biodiversity Framework will remain just a promise on paper if we do not take action. Without a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan that fully embraces the 23 targets, sufficient resources to support them, and a robust monitoring system to measure and adjust progress, the Netherlands cannot achieve the necessary changes for biodiversity restoration.’

_{Coenraad Krijger, director IUCN NL}

All countries must have drawn up or adapted their national action plans based on the goals from the KM-GBF by the start of COP16. Indeed, the action plans will be reviewed and fine-tuned during this COP to ensure effective contribution to achieving the global biodiversity targets. As a CBD contracting party, the Netherlands has also committed to submit an action plan. This plan covers the entire Kingdom of the Netherlands, i.e. the European and Caribbean part.

• Discover the state of Dutch nature on the National Dashboard for Biodiversity
  
  

What else can we expect at CBD COP16?

Colombia, as chair of the COP, has chosen ‘peace with nature’ as its overarching theme. This theme calls for improving the relationship between humans and nature and finding ways to change the current model of extraction, overexploitation, and pollution of nature. Colombia aims to establish a peace with nature coalition during COP16.

The main goal of COP16 is to promote the implementation of the goals in the KM-GBF. Three issues are expected to take centre stage during the formal negotiations, namely how the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund should function, and what are the modalities of a multilateral mechanism for the fair sharing of benefits arising from the use of Digital Sequence Information of genetic resources. There will also be negotiations on the arrangements around the global review of KM-GBF implementation.

In addition, the monitoring framework agreed at COP15 will be further developed to better track implementation progress. A strengthened monitoring and reporting system is crucial to ensure that biodiversity targets are met.

Low- and middle-income countries expect dedicated support from high-income countries for the implementation of the KM-GBF during this COP. North-South and triangular collaborations, which focus on the transfer of knowledge, technology, and finance, will play a crucial role here.

Who is attending COP16 in Cali?

Government delegations from the 196 countries that have signed the KM-GBF will be present at the COP. A separate segment will be organised for ministers, heads of state and government. As a member state of the European Union, the Netherlands has co-signed the KM-GBF and will therefore be present at the COP in Cali.

COP16 is to be the ‘People’s COP’ because Colombia, as organiser, will pay specific attention to Indigenous people and local communities. There is ample attention to participation from civil society, including companies, financial institutions, NGOs, knowledge institutions, youth, and women’s groups.

Read more

• IUCN’s position paper about COP16