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| Convention on Biological Diversity COP15 | |
|---|---|
| Name | COP15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity |
| Date signed | 7–19 December 2022 |
| Location | Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Parties | Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and observers |
Convention on Biological Diversity COP15
The fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity convened as COP15 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, bringing together delegates from Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, representatives of the United Nations Environment Programme, the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, and civil society. COP15 aimed to negotiate and adopt a global framework for biodiversity for the post-2020 decade, involving stakeholders such as the European Union, the United States, the People's Republic of China, and the Global Environment Facility. Outcomes were shaped by inputs from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, indigenous organizations including the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and non-governmental actors like Greenpeace and the World Wildlife Fund.
COP15 arose from obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity—a multilateral environmental agreement opened for signature at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro—with the objective to halt biodiversity loss and sustain ecosystem services. The summit sought to produce a post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework comparable in ambition to the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and to align with targets articulated by the Sustainable Development Goals, the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, and assessments from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Parties referenced commitments made by the African Union, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and regional instruments such as the European Green Deal in shaping objectives.
Negotiations were led by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice and the Subsidiary Body on Implementation under the Convention on Biological Diversity secretariat, with co-chairs from delegations including China and Mexico at different stages. Delegations included ministers and negotiators from the Group of 77, the European Union, the Small Island Developing States caucus, and developed Parties such as Canada, Japan, and Australia. Indigenous and local community representatives from the Indigenous Peoples of Africa Coordinating Committee, the Association of World Reindeer Herders, and the World Farmers' Organisation participated alongside scientific experts from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and observers from financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank. Negotiation tracks involved contact groups, plenary sessions, and high-level roundtables with leaders including heads of state from Brazil, South Africa, and France.
COP15 produced a Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) containing targets for area-based conservation, sustainable use, and benefit-sharing, echoing prior commitments from the Nagoya Protocol, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Major agreements included a target to conserve 30% of terrestrial and marine areas by 2030, mechanisms for biodiversity finance referencing the Global Environment Facility and proposals from the Green Climate Fund, and a commitment to restore degraded ecosystems comparable to initiatives by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Decisions addressed access and benefit-sharing consistent with principles from the Nagoya Protocol and established monitoring and reporting so Parties could align with reporting formats used by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.
Implementation provisions tasked the Convention on Biological Diversity secretariat, the Global Environment Facility, and multilateral development banks including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank to mobilize resources, with encouragement for bilateral cooperation from donors such as Norway and Germany. The GBF recommended innovative finance instruments discussed by the Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures and private sector engagement through institutions like the International Finance Corporation and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Capacity-building initiatives were linked to programs by the United Nations Development Programme, technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organization, and partnerships with regional development banks such as the African Development Bank.
Adoption of the GBF positioned biodiversity conservation alongside climate action exemplified by the Paris Agreement and terrestrial protection targets akin to proposals in the High Ambition Coalition. Expected environmental impacts included prevention of species extinctions identified in assessments by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and restoration of ecosystems emphasized by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Socio-economic implications involved implications for indigenous rights defended by the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, agricultural policy shifts relevant to the World Farmers' Organisation and trade considerations involving the World Trade Organization. The framework sought to reconcile conservation with livelihoods in contexts like the Amazon Rainforest, the Coral Triangle, and the Sahel.
Critics from organizations such as Friends of the Earth and commentators in outlets aligned with environmental law scholars argued that targets lacked binding enforcement mechanisms compared to the Paris Agreement compliance procedures. Tensions arose over language on protected areas versus indigenous-managed lands, with disputes involving the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America and indigenous delegations like the Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon River Basin. Financial commitments prompted debate about additionality versus repurposing of official development assistance, drawing scrutiny from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and fiscal watchdogs. Controversies also concerned potential conflicts with trade regimes under the World Trade Organization and intellectual property arrangements influenced by the World Intellectual Property Organization.
Post-COP15 follow-up involves national reporting cycles to the Convention on Biological Diversity secretariat, review by the Subsidiary Body on Implementation, and alignment with processes under the Global Biodiversity Framework including national biodiversity strategies referenced by Parties such as India, United Kingdom, and Kenya. Finance pledges are subject to mobilization through the Global Environment Facility replenishment and bilateral initiatives by donors including Sweden and Switzerland. Future meetings of the Conference of the Parties will occur under schedules set by the Convention on Biological Diversity and linkages to other multilateral fora such as the United Nations General Assembly high-level segments and regional platforms like the European Union biodiversity assemblies.
Category:International environmental conferences Category:Biodiversity