As the global community prepares for COP16, the 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), biodiversity commitments are at the forefront of global discourse. The summit, set to take place in Cali, Colombia from October 21 to November 1, 2024, follows the landmark ‘30×30’ pledge made during COP15. With the ambitious goal of protecting 30% of the world’s land and water by 2030, the question arises: how will the world turn commitments into tangible results?
The 30×30 Pledge: A Global Commitment
In December 2022, the international community came together in Canada to establish the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The framework set the ambitious target of protecting at least 30% of the world’s land and water, as well as restoring 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030. This agreement was described by many as the “Paris Agreement for nature,” underscoring its importance for the future of global biodiversity conservation.
The GBF goes beyond environmental protection, committing nations to repurpose $500 billion annually, eliminating environmentally damaging subsidies. The plan also calls for the mobilization of $200 billion per year for conservation efforts, with developed countries committing $20 billion annually for developing nations by 2025, a figure expected to rise to $30 billion by 2030. These funds are essential for helping nations meet the framework’s goals.
Progress So Far: Achievements and Shortfalls
Despite the groundbreaking commitments made at COP15, only 25 countries and the European Union had submitted actionable plans for the 30×30 pledge by mid-2024, according to analysis by CarbonBrief and The Guardian. This highlights a significant gap between promises and delivery. The urgency of the situation is underlined by data from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which indicates that Earth’s wildlife populations have decreased by 73% in the past 50 years, driven by habitat loss, climate change, and overexploitation.
However, some megadiverse countries—nations that harbor a significant portion of the world’s biodiversity—have made progress. Brazil, which contains 60% of the Amazon rainforest, reduced deforestation by 36% last year under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s leadership. Similarly, Colombia saw a nearly 50% reduction in primary forest loss. Despite these successes, an area almost twice the size of India is expected to be converted to agriculture by 2050, jeopardizing long-term biodiversity goals.
Global Commitments vs. Local Realities: The Role of Indigenous Communities
One of the most critical and often overlooked elements of the 30×30 framework is the role of Indigenous peoples and local communities. Studies consistently show that ecosystems are best preserved when managed by their traditional custodians. Indigenous-led conservation initiatives are more sustainable, enduring, and effective than top-down interventions. Recognizing this, the GBF emphasizes the importance of Indigenous rights, but turning this into actionable policy remains a challenge for COP16.
A report by the conservation group Fauna & Flora highlights the significant contributions of locally-led projects in preserving biodiversity. The report urges governments and conservation organizations to include Indigenous knowledge systems in biodiversity protection efforts, while also advocating for securing land tenure for Indigenous peoples. As Kristian Teleki, CEO of Fauna & Flora, notes, “Those living closest to high biodiversity areas are likely to have the best knowledge of their local area, and this expertise should be supported and bolstered.”
Financial Commitments and Biodiversity Goals: A Disconnect?
One of the major challenges facing the 30×30 pledge is the financial gap between commitments and actions. While developed nations have committed to providing financial aid to support biodiversity goals in developing nations, the $20 billion annual target for 2025 seems insufficient. The economic strain of the COVID-19 pandemic, rising inflation, and the cost of transitioning to greener economies have left many developed countries struggling to meet these financial commitments.
As a result, there are concerns that without adequate financial resources, many developing nations will be unable to meet their biodiversity goals. This financial shortfall not only threatens biodiversity but also exacerbates inequalities between the Global North and South. For example, megadiverse nations like Brazil, Indonesia, and Colombia are home to the planet’s richest ecosystems but often lack the financial and technical capacity to protect them adequately.
Linking Biodiversity and Climate Goals: A Systemic Approach
Experts argue that biodiversity cannot be protected in isolation from other global issues like climate change and food security. The global food system is the largest driver of biodiversity loss, responsible for approximately 80% of deforestation and the conversion of land to agricultural use. As Crystal Davis, global director of the World Resources Institute’s Food, Land, and Water program, notes, “The biodiversity crisis didn’t happen in a silo; its causes are inherently linked to the world’s climate and development challenges. Its solutions are, too.”
Countries are increasingly recognizing the need to integrate biodiversity protection into broader policies on food systems, water security, and climate change. National biodiversity plans (NBSAPs) due by COP16 must include these considerations, as well as aligning biodiversity goals with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for climate action, due in 2025. This integration will be critical to ensuring that biodiversity protection is both sustainable and equitable.
The Role of the EU: A Leader or Laggard?
As one of the world’s wealthiest regions, the European Union is expected to take a leadership role in meeting biodiversity goals. However, the EU’s track record on biodiversity protection is mixed. While the bloc has ambitious goals on paper, implementation has often been slow, and many member states have failed to meet previous biodiversity targets.
Greenpeace and other environmental organizations are calling on the EU to lead by example at COP16. “No more empty promises without action,” urges Špela Bandelj Ruiz, Greenpeace Central & Eastern Europe’s biodiversity campaigner. The EU must not only meet its own biodiversity targets but also provide adequate funding to help developing nations meet theirs.
Moving Forward: The Path to COP16 and Beyond
The upcoming COP16 conference represents a critical juncture in the global effort to protect biodiversity. With only six years remaining until the 2030 deadline, countries must turn commitments into action. This requires not only adequate funding and political will but also a recognition that biodiversity, climate, and development goals are intrinsically linked.
As the world watches to see how nations, particularly the EU, will deliver on their biodiversity commitments, the stakes could not be higher. Failure to meet the 30×30 target would have catastrophic consequences for ecosystems and human societies alike. The time for action is now, and COP16 represents a vital opportunity to set the world on a sustainable path.
Coordinated global action
The biodiversity crisis demands coordinated global action that goes beyond empty promises. The 30×30 pledge and the commitments made at COP15 are a good start, but without concrete actions, these promises risk becoming yet another failed global initiative. The role of the EU, developing nations, and Indigenous communities will be central to the success of COP16. Only through collective, integrated efforts can we hope to reverse the catastrophic loss of biodiversity and build a sustainable future for all.
References
- World Wildlife Fund. (2024). Global Wildlife Population Decline Report.
- CarbonBrief & The Guardian. (2024). Analysis of National Biodiversity Plans.
- World Resources Institute. (2024). Biodiversity and Food Systems: A Global Analysis.
- Fauna & Flora. (2024). Indigenous-Led Conservation: A Pathway to Success.
- Greenpeace Central & Eastern Europe. (2024). Biodiversity Commitments at COP16.
