Highlights from the UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP15, Montreal 2022)

Biodiversity’s equivalent to climate’s 1.5 degrees objective has been adopted: the 30 x 30. On 19 December 2022, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) agreement was reached at the 15^th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15). It aims “to protect 30% of the planet for nature by 2030, reform $500 billions of environmentally damaging subsidies, and restore 30% of the planet’s degraded terrestrial, inland water, coastal and marine ecosystems”. The 30 x 30 is in full alignment with the Biodiversa+ mission. Here’s how.

Biodiversa+ welcomes the agreement’s target to conserve at least 30% of land, freshwater and ocean globally by 2030. This requires ecologically representative, well-connected and fairly governed protected areas and other effective conservation measures. We also salute the framework’s inclusion of distinct components for the three levels of biodiversity:

The GBF also asserts the importance of nature restoration, as well as the recognition given to the role of Nature-based Solutions. Both are pillars of Biodiversa+ activities.

The framework has adopted 4 long-term goals and 23 targets. But COP15 also agreed on their monitoring, reporting and review framework, as well as elements on capacity building, technical and scientific cooperation and resource mobilisation.

Biodiversa+ provides the knowledge, capacity and infrastructure to support the implementation of the GBF goals, targets and processes. We especially want to highlight the following linkages:

The framework stresses the importance of technical and scientific cooperation across borders, including through joint research programmes for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. It also underlines the need for accessible data, information and knowledge for decision makers, practitioners and the public.

Biodiversa+ is working to reinforce knowledge and fund new research that is society and policy relevant in line with our Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda, as well as to promote FAIR data.

To bridge the gap between research, policy and action, Biodiversa+ engages stakeholders during the whole research process. We will also continue our two-way collaboration with the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), and other international initiatives. Together we make sure that the best available data and knowledge can guide effective and equitable governance and management of biodiversity.

COP15 has launched the Global Biodiversity knowledge Support service. This “one-stop service centre” provides technical and scientific knowledge, expertise, tools and other resources to implement the GBF.

Biodiversa+ is committed to contributing to this global initiative and helping to maximize its use and impact. It will also continue to implement capacity building activities for improved science-policy interfacing by research actors, as well as for biodiversity monitoring such as:

A key aspect of the GBF is monitoring the progress of our efforts.  Biodiversa+ and its collaborators are establishing a transnational network of harmonised monitoring schemes, building on existing national and subnational schemes. It will provide Parties and other stakeholders with timely and relevant data for tracking and improving biodiversity strategies and action plans. Biodiversa+ is also developing and implementing novel technologies (including remote sensing and citizen science) and modelling approaches to fill the gaps.

The GBF has underlined the importance of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for tackling pressing societal challenges. As have the Rio Conventions, G20 and other bodies. Biodiversa+ will contribute to knowledge for developing and deploying NbS, including through its 3^rd Call for proposals to be launched in September 2023. Early next year, Biodiversa+ will also launch a knowledge hub to increase the impact of biodiversity and climate research and foster effective knowledge transfer towards policy and society. This knowledge hub will have a special focus on the potential of nature-based solutions for mitigating and adapting to climate change.

Biodiversa+ has participated in several side events at COP15

Biodiversa+ has four ongoing flagship programmes that fully align with the GBF and will promote the whole-of-society and transdisciplinary approaches needed: