EU reaffirms global pledge to protect a third of the planet by 2030

The Council approved conclusions in view of the Conference of Parties on the Convention on biological diversity (COP16) and the meetings on the Cartagena protocol and the Nagoya protocol, to be held in Cali, Colombia, from 21 October to 1 November 2024.

The conclusions will serve as the EU’s general negotiating position at the meetings.

The continued loss of biodiversity is a global and existential threat to humanity and transformative change is needed to address this challenge. Against this background, the Council stresses the urgent need for the full and effective implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Two years ago, we agreed to protect a third of the lands, water and seas of this planet by 2030. Our success will rely on swift action and should be thoroughly measured through effective monitoring of our progress. Furthermore, biodiversity should be present across all policies and sectors: we depend on it for medicine, energy, clean air and water and it protects us from natural disasters.

István Nagy, Hungarian Minister for Agriculture

Convention on biological diversity

Swift implementation and efficient monitoring

In its conclusions, the Council reaffirms the commitments made in 2022 under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: to protect a third of the planet for nature by 2030 and to put nature on a path to recovery for the benefit of people and planet.

Against this background, it reiterates the commitment of the EU and its member states to implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework, as demonstrated by the recent adoption of the EU regulation on nature restoration.

The Council is committed to adopting at COP16 a solid, efficient, transparent and clear process for the global review of collective progress in its implementation, in order to measure the extent to which goals and targets have been achieved.

The Council reiterates the critical importance of mainstreaming biodiversity across all levels of government and society. The EU is strongly committed to tackling biodiversity loss, ecosystem, land, water and ocean degradation, climate change and pollution in an effective and integrated way.

Mobilizing financial resources

The Council supports the role of the Global Environmental Facility, the financial mechanism of the Convention which has already reached 69% of its biodiversity finance target. It also welcomes the establishment of the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, the aim of which is to scale up financing for the implementation of the agreed framework.

The Council reiterates its commitment to mobilizing resources from all sources for the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework and stresses the importance of adopting at COP16 a revised strategy for resource mobilization.

Digital sequence information on genetic resources

The Council stresses the importance of finalising a multilateral mechanism for benefit-sharing from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources, including setting up a dedicated global fund at COP16. For the Council, it will be important to ensure certainty and legal clarity for providers and users of digital sequence information.

Cartagena protocol on biosafety

The Cartagena protocol on biosafety aims to ensure the safe handling, transport and use of living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health.

In its conclusions, the Council emphasizes the need for the full implementation of the protocol by strengthening national biosafety frameworks, adopting robust science-based risk assessment and management procedures, in particular in decisions related to living modified organisms.

Nagoya protocol on access and benefit sharing

The Council underlines the importance of fully implementing the Nagoya protocol to achieve the objectives of the Global Biodiversity Framework, particularly in ensuring that benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources are shared fairly and equitably. This can contribute to biodiversity conservation and includes measures such as easier access to genetic resources.

Background

The UN Convention on biological diversity was opened for signature at the Rio ‘Earth Summit’ in 1992 and entered into force in December 1993. The EU and its member states are parties to the Convention.

The UN Convention on biological diversity has two protocols, the Cartagena protocol on biosafety and the Nagoya protocol on access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization, which entered into force in 2003 and 2014, respectively.

The conferences and meetings of parties of these agreements take place every two years.

COP15 (in 2022) agreed on the new Global Diversity Framework which sets 23 targets aimed at halting the biodiversity loss, including a pledge to protect 30% of land and oceans by 2030.

COP 16 (the ‘first implementation COP’) will be the first Biodiversity COP since the adoption of the Global Biodiversity Framework. At COP16, governments will review the progress made in implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework.