Chinese presidency sets tone for COP16

Recognizing China's notable contributions to the global biodiversity process throughout its presidency tenure at the COP15 United Nations biodiversity conference, experts have highlighted China's potential to pave the way for a successful COP16 in Colombia.

They made the remarks in the lead-up to the annual general meeting of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development. Established in 1992, the platform serves as a high-level international advisory body that provides policy advice to the Chinese government.

In October 2021, China officially assumed the presidency for COP15, which is officially known as the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The nation will hand over the presidency at the upcoming COP16, which is slated to be held in Cali, Colombia, from Oct 21 to Nov 1.

Marco Lambertini, a CCICED council member and the convener of the Nature Positive Initiative, eloquently portrayed the COVID-19 pandemic-induced disruptions to COP15, drawing from his firsthand involvement in the conference's unfolding narrative.

"I still remember the morning of the first negotiation meeting of the post-2020 biodiversity framework in February 2020 in Rome when suddenly every delegate was met by Italian police staff wearing masks and testing everyone's body temperature. The pandemic had exploded," he said.

The key task of COP15 is to elaborate on the post-2020 global biodiversity framework and identify global biodiversity protection goals up to 2030.

Despite the inevitable disruption from the pandemic, the Chinese presidency showed uncompromising determination, stressed Lambertini, who is also the former director-general of WWF International.

China's decision to hold the first part of COP15, albeit virtually, sent a strong political signal about the importance of not being derailed in reaching an international agreement on biodiversity and provided impetus to the continuation of the negotiations, he noted.

The first part of COP15 — which was held in Kunming, the provincial capital of Yunnan province, in October 2021 — included an opening ceremony, speeches by leaders and the issuance of the "Kunming Declaration". For the second part, parties met in Montreal, Canada, from Dec 5 to 17 to conclude negotiations and decide on the post-2020 framework.

Lambertini lauded the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework parties reached under the Chinese presidency as one "without any doubts the most comprehensive and measurable plan for biodiversity we ever had".

The framework, which includes measurable targets on conservation, restoration, reduction of harmful subsidies and increased funding for biodiversity, has dramatically increased clarity, accountability and opportunities for recognition of governments and the private sector, he said.

The framework has 23 action-oriented global goals slated to be fulfilled during this decade. For instance, it aims to reduce incentives, including subsidies, for acts that harm biodiversity by at least $500 billion per year by 2030.

"Target measurability is key," Lambertini said. "The only target nearly achieved in the previous Aichi agreement a decade earlier was the only truly measurable one of achieving 15 percent and 10 percent of terrestrial and marine protected area coverage."

China's contribution to addressing the global biodiversity crisis in leading the world to adopt the framework has been outstanding and unparalleled.

"It has elevated the 'silent crisis' of biodiversity to a global priority as a dangerous threat the world cannot any longer ignore and must address urgently and decisively," he underscored.

Linda Krueger, director of Biodiversity and Infrastructure Policy for The Nature Conservancy, as well as co-lead of CCICED's Special Policy Study titled "Biodiversity Conservation and Implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Framework", said the framework has set out an ambitious road map for achieving a world where people live in harmony with nature.

Target 3 of the framework, which proposes to protect at least 30 percent of the land and sea by 2030, reflects ambition and a sense of urgency for biodiversity conservation, representing a significant upgrade in ambition from previous targets laid out by the Convention on Biological Diversity and undoubtedly provides new impetus and direction for global biodiversity conservation, Krueger noted.

"Even more ambitious are the targets related to mainstreaming biodiversity across sectors, including agriculture, forestry, fisheries and industrial activities such as energy, mining and infrastructure," she said.

The financial components of the framework are also critical to its ultimate success and extremely ambitious, she emphasized. Developing countries will need a lot of financial and technical support to implement the 23 targets of the framework, and even wealthier countries will struggle to transform sectors to be more supportive of positive biodiversity outcomes.

Krueger also spoke highly of China's contribution of funds and support to the global biodiversity conservation process, especially the conservation efforts in developing nations.

"China has become the largest donor to the core budget of the CBD and its protocols, and the largest developing country contributor to the Global Environment Facility," she said.

In the first part of COP15, China took the lead by announcing plans to invest 1.5 billion yuan ($212 million) to establish the Kunming Biodiversity Fund, which was officially launched in May.

The fund is a vital initiative, demonstrating the responsibility of the Chinese government and providing important financial and technical support for global biodiversity conservation, Krueger stressed.

Looking into the future, Krueger said she hopes China will continue to play a proactive role in the global biodiversity conservation process.

"The Kunming-Montreal framework provides a blueprint for turning nature's fortunes around in this make-or-break decade," she said.

China's efforts and commitments have not only demonstrated its leadership in biodiversity conservation, but also injected fresh impetus into global environmental governance, promoting international cooperation and action on biodiversity conservation, she said.

"China's presidency of COP15 is poised to set the stage for a successful COP16 in Cali by showcasing its commitment to biodiversity conservation. I can see that the Chinese government and all sectors are committed to implementing agreements from COP16," she noted.