The annual United Nations conference on biodiversity started up again in Rome. This year, it is doing so by prioritizing fiscal policy ahead of the budget as a major area of focus. The conference aims to implement the Global Biodiversity Framework, which seeks to protect 30% of the planet and 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030. This important meeting follows a series of disrupted talks. Linda Krueger of The Nature Conservancy lamented a loss of quorum during those conversations.
Krueger, who traveled to the two-day talks in Rome, noted that the unexpected early exit of delegates had led to a stalling of normal procedures at one meeting. People just walked out. She said that’s how chaotic the last in-person conference was. Their stakeholders share their delicious urgency to put together sensible financial plans. Most importantly, they are committed to addressing climate change and human development impacts that have negatively affected our biodiversity.
The Stakes of Financial Commitments
Out of these negotiations, the financial targets that were established during the COP16 discussions in Colombia have garnered major attention. They project that their measure would raise an ambitious $20 billion per year by 2025 and $30 billion by 2030. As of late November, just $383 million has been pledged. Now, this money was raised bilaterally by 12 countries and countries-within-countries, including Austria, Canada, France, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Oscar Soria, chief executive of The Common Initiative and their longstanding implementation, to focus dollars on improving outcomes. “We’re really very far off the pace of earning that money,” Soria said. His remarks sum up a growing pessimism on if countries can actually deliver the money they promised to protect biodiversity.
The implications of this lack of funding reach past U.S. shores as well. As Georgina Chandler of the Worldwide Fund for Nature beautifully explained the interconnectedness of ecosystems, “Deforestation in the Amazon doesn’t just devastate Brazil, it impacts all South America.” She didn’t forget to mention how these climatic changes impact precipitation patterns and food systems both regionally and internationally.
Implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework
The Global Biodiversity Framework, developed in December 2022, was a direct response to the rapid and concerning decimation of species worldwide. According to a recent report from the World Wildlife Fund and the Zoological Society of London, global wildlife populations have plummeted by an average of 73% over the past 50 years. This startling statistic serves to amplify the need to act, the need for clear, decisive and honest action.
Chandler articulated the need for clarity in financing efforts: “It’s really about how do we collect the money and how do we get it distributed fairly, get it to the ground where it’s needed most so that that’s really the core issue.” She continued to stress the fact that biodiversity is very important for people’s livelihoods, quality of life, stability of environment.
These negotiations in Rome further develop the foundation laid during last year’s COP15 in Montreal. There, they presented 23 concrete biodiversity protection action steps. In particular, Montreal focused on figuring out its goals. At the same time, Chandler said, Cali must make sure to concentrate on the ‘how’ by executing the plans and ensuring formation of financing. The challenge continues to be daunting as all stakeholders wrestle with how lofty aspirations will be converted into concrete strategies.
The Broader Implications for Biodiversity
The consequences of not winning enough funding are severe. Our biodiversity is in a steep decline. As it shrinks, the health of our ecosystems becomes more unstable, undermining critical resources such as clean air and water. Chandler remarked on the critical role biodiversity plays in maintaining natural systems: “It’s essential to the air we breathe, the water we drink, rainfall that food systems rely on.”
The interconnected nature of these issues means that it’s critical for global leaders to take bold, urgent action on funding commitments. Soria even more colorfully described the dramatic turn of events. He likened it to a “good Colombian telenovela” morphing into a “tragic Italian opera,” in which nobody is happy and everyone ends up a loser.
As discussions unfold in Rome, stakeholders remain hopeful that they can overcome financial hurdles and implement effective strategies to protect global biodiversity. The need for cooperative action is more pressing than ever as the world faces an escalating crisis related to both climate change and biodiversity loss.
Leave a Reply