December 19, 2022
MONTREAL, Canada (19 December, 2022) – Today, Conservation International’s Vice President of International Policy Lina Barrera, issued the below statement following the conclusion of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15). COP15 resulted in the final version of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), a global policy agreement that will guide action and funding for biodiversity through 2030.
Barrera said:
“Countries arrived at COP15 with one goal: agreement on a Global Biodiversity Framework that would guide biodiversity conservation for the rest of this decade. After Montreal, biodiversity loss will no longer be without a roadmap for recovery.
“Through the GBF the world has collectively chosen to take responsibility and work toward repairing the harm caused to our planet’s life support system – the plants and animals that help keep our world in balance – by setting in motion a plan to protect and conserve at least 30% of land area by 2030. The 30x30 effort will move forward in a way that recognizes Indigenous peoples and local community (IPLCs) territories while highlighting the places that provide ecosystem services – the water, food, air and climate stability that is essential for human wellbeing.
“Conservation International is pleased to see movement toward closing the $700 billion finance gap, which was crucial for reaching a sufficient agreement. However, there is still farther to go as we have not quite reached the level of ambition needed. Recognition of $500 billion in subsidy reform and the creation of a new Global Biodiversity Trust Fund are necessary steps, but we must also continue to foster the flow of resources from the private sector to high-quality and innovative efforts working to protect and conserve nature.
“While it is overall positive, the final agreement misses an opportunity to capitalize on the significant overlap of places that are important to humans, our climate and other species. The lands providing the most direct benefit to people are also home to at least 60% of all terrestrial vertebrate species – mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians – and overlap with more than 80% of the global area most important for maintaining critical irrecoverable carbon stores.
“The targets, focused on the benefits that nature provides people, do not include guidance to countries on where it would be most beneficial to focus actions. Without this, limited resources may be focused in places that provide fewer benefits, and we do not have time for that. Investments in priority areas would simultaneously safeguard biodiversity, high-carbon ecosystems and the nature we rely on.
“Now, the hard work begins. It is time to make good on the promises made in Montreal and ensure that the targets in the framework are met. It will take continued commitment and finance to avoid the mistakes of the past. With one million species at risk of extinction there is no time to waste and Conservation International looks forward to working toward a nature positive world in the places that people and other species depend on most.”
###
About Conservation International: Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, for biodiversity and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples and local communities to help people and nature thrive together. Go to Conservation.org for more, and follow our work on Conservation News, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.