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Nature crisis: Talks resume on global plan to protect biodiversity

Hector Vivas flowerHector Vivas

UN negotiators have resumed work on the text of world-wide plan to protect nature and species for the next decade.

The draft Global Biodiversity Framework aims to conserve at least 30% of the world's land and oceans.

It will also push to eliminate plastic waste and cut pesticide use by at least two thirds.

The pact was due to be agreed at a UN biodiversity summit in China this October, but face to face talks have been delayed until April next year..

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is a UN treaty that has been ratified by 195 countries plus the European Union.

The United States signed the agreement in 1993 but has failed to ratify it and remains outside the pact.

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Over the past three decades, countries have agreed a series of plans under the CBD to protect nature at the global level.

More than a decade ago negotiators agreed goals to preserve plants and species, in the decade from 2010-2020.

However, the nations of the world failed to fully meet any of the 20 targets which included protecting coral reefs and tackling pollution.

Negotiators are now working on a new, enhanced plan that would set goals for the next decade and beyond.

The draft of the new agreement has already been published and proposes 21 targets for 2030 including:

  • At least 30% of the land and seas should be conserved through effective, equitably managed measures;
  • There should be a 50% or greater reduction in the rate of introduction of invasive alien species, with controls to eliminate or reduce their impacts;
  • Nutrients lost to the environment should be cut by at least half;
  • Reduce pesticide use by at least two thirds;
  • Eliminate the discharge of plastic waste;
  • Nature's contribution to global efforts to cut greenhouse gases should be increased;
  • Redirect or eliminate incentives harmful to biodiversity by at least $50b a year;
  • An increase in the funding for the conservation of nature to at least $200b a year.

The framework document had been due for discussion between government ministers at the biggest conservation meeting in a decade in Kunming, China

The gathering, known as COP15, was due in October 2020, but has been delayed three times due to the Covid pandemic.

There will now be a two-part meeting, with the first element taking place virtually this October. The second part with two weeks of face to face meetings will convene next April in China.

It's expected that the key outcome of the October discussions will be the Kunming Declaration.

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The new framework aims to protect 30% of the land and oceans

Observers believe it will give an important steer to the efforts to land an ambitious biodiversity treaty.

"This document will be the first time that China, as COP15 president, will directly decide a specific political outcome," said Li Shuo, with Greenpeace China.

"So the quality of this declaration will be a test for China, I think it will also tell us a lot about China's leadership style, and what they will do in the second half of the COP next year."

Experts are concerned that much of the discussion to date has been focused on the question of targets.

"If you think about targets, they really only outline the vision of where we need to be in 10 years," said Li Shuo.

"The more challenging part is actually how do we get there? You need implementation, you need the rules and the national commitment. To really do the work you also need resources."

Another key question that will need resolving in the negotiations is termed the digital sequence of information on genetic resources.

This is a highly contentious issue and refers to digital biological data and the sharing of benefits between countries that might arise from the use of these resources. At present it is not covered by the proposed framework, but some observers believe it may form part of the final agreement.

"The digital sequence of information and access and benefit sharing is one of those terms that's quite complicated," explained Georgina Chandler from the RSPB.

"But it is basically another way of saying resources being mobilised from developed to developing countries, because at the heart of it, that is part of the issue as well.

"And we know from countries such as Brazil and others, that they definitely want to see that integrated into the post 2020 framework for there to be an agreement around ambition as well."

Follow Matt on Twitter @mattmcgrathbbc.