As part of the process of developing the post-2020 global biodiversity framework established in decision 14/34 of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2018, a regional consultation meeting was held in Germany in April 2019. The meeting convened over 100 participants made up of youths, women groups, indigenous representatives and European Union representatives of the Parties to the Convention.
In support of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, the UN Environment Programme and the World Conservation Monitoring Centre are working together to develop a strategy that is expected to feed into the intersessional period for development, negotiation and implementation of the biodiversity framework, whilst also identifying elements that will foster transformational changes to make the 2050 vision a reality.
Mainstreaming biodiversity into national development plans should be made a principle, a cross-cutting issue, and must be considered during implementation of the biodiversity framework. Biodiversity cannot be addressed as a stand-alone issue but must be linked to the human issues and global processes that affect it. It is therefore necessary to encourage deep engagement with development sectors and actors to address the root causes of biodiversity loss, such as food consumption, pollution, energy and mining. Stakeholders at the meeting were encouraged to consider removing harmful subsidies and introducing reforms whilst using biodiversity as an economical basis for sustainable development.
In order to promote Rio Principle 7, which encourages global cooperation among states to conserve, protect and restore the health and integrity of the earth’s ecosystem, governments and relevant stakeholders were further encouraged to use the outcomes of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services global assessments, and the Global Environmental Outlook, to analyze options for transformative change to achieve societal actions in relation to food consumption and the use of chemicals.
There is a need to strengthen coherence, synergies and governance, legal frameworks and enforcement of the rule of law. This could be achieved by: strengthening cooperation with and among developing countries to resolve issues of conflict and migration pressures on biodiversity; addressing human rights issues in relation to indigenous and local communities (including women).
UN Environment will continue to promote stronger national biodiversity monitoring programmes by supporting countries to implement national biodiversity strategy and action plans. It will further support the Convention on Biological Diversity to review existing biodiversity conservation mechanisms and to build better and more efficient infrastructures for implementation.
For more information please contact: Diane.Klaimi[at]un.org I Niamh.Brannigan[at]un.org I Catherine.Abuto[at]un.org
