The United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15), which convened in Montreal, Canada, and concluded on December 19, 2022, has yielded a landmark accord shaping global actions in the realm of nature conservation until 2030. Under the chairmanship of China and hosted by Canada, this two-week summit involved representatives from 188 nations.
COP15 culminated in the endorsement of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) during the final day of negotiations. The GBF has a multi-faceted agenda, encompassing the mitigation of biodiversity depletion, the restoration of ecosystems, and the safeguarding of indigenous rights. It encompasses specific strategies to arrest and reverse the degradation of nature, including the protection of 30 percent of the Earth's surface and 30 percent of degraded ecosystems by 2030. Additionally, it outlines provisions for augmenting financial support to developing nations.
The significance of this accord is underscored by the current planetary crisis, characterized by a perilous decline in biodiversity, potentially leading to the largest mass extinction since the era of dinosaurs. Approximately one million plant and animal species confront the specter of extinction, with many facing this threat within decades.
The GBF establishes four overarching global goals for nature protection, encompassing the cessation of human-induced extinctions, sustainable biodiversity management, equitable sharing of genetic resource benefits, and the facilitation of GBF implementation, especially for the Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States.
Financial considerations played a pivotal role during COP15, revolving around the quantum of funding that developed nations will allocate to combat biodiversity erosion in developing countries. It was proposed that the Global Environment Facility establish a dedicated GBF Fund to support the framework's implementation, ensuring a consistent and timely flow of resources.
Additionally, countries approved a suite of complementary agreements for executing the GBF, encompassing planning, monitoring, reporting, and review mechanisms, all instrumental in monitoring and accelerating progress. The GBF assumes monumental significance in halting the ongoing alarming trend of species extinction, which has escalated to levels tens to hundreds of times higher than historical averages spanning the past ten million years.
In an era plagued by escalating biodiversity loss and the looming specter of mass species extinction, this historic accord signifies a global commitment to urgently address and reverse these crises. By setting clear objectives for nature conservation, sustainable resource use, and equitable sharing of genetic resource benefits, the GBF provides a roadmap for humanity to recalibrate its relationship with the natural world.
Source: United National Environment Programme. "COP15 ends with landmark biodiversity agreement". https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/cop15-ends-landmark-biodiversity-agreement. 20/12/2022. [Date accessed: 21 Dec, 2022].
Edited by: Aditya Vinjimoor
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