STATEMENT: Launch of Global Biodiversity Framework Fund Comes at Pivotal Moment
August 24, 2023
Vancouver, CA (August 24, 2023) – Today, the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) was launched at the 7th Assembly of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) in Vancouver, Canada. The GBFF is a new source of funding that will directly support global efforts to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, a goal agreed to by 196 countries as part of the Global Biodiversity Framework established at COP15 last December.
Lina Barrera, Conservation International vice president for international policy released the following statement in support of the GBFF:
“Last December, the approval of the Global Biodiversity Framework gave the global community a roadmap designed to guide biodiversity conservation for the rest of the decade. Today, the formal launch of the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund is a pivotal step forward in moving from commitment to action.
“The official launch of the fund comes at a time when it is impossible to ignore the urgency of the crises we face. As the fund was launched in Vancouver, a blanket of wildfire smoke covered the city, floating down from a record-breaking fire season across northern British Columbia.
"The initial contributions from Canada and the United Kingdom are to be commended, without them the fund could not have been established on such a fast timeline. Unfortunately, there is still a $40 million gap before the fund can be operational.
“A roadmap without the resources to drive impact would be an empty promise and it’s no secret that a $700 billion biodiversity funding gap exists. This fund marks a moment of change. The time to address the biggest challenges facing the environment is not tomorrow, but today. Right now.
“The fund, housed by the GEF, will help accelerate impact. It accepts support from all sources – developed countries, philanthropy and the private sector. It will also help funnel resources to developing countries and small-island states – nations that are disproportionately impacted by climate change and biodiversity loss. This inclusivity and global collaboration is imperative for the transformational change needed to address the biodiversity crisis.”
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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.
