Congratulations to the 196 Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity for the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework with a vision statement of “By 2050, biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people.” The agreement includes 4 goals and 23 targets for the parties to implement immediately and to achieve by 2030.
Click here to read the Kunming-Montreal Global biodiversity framework
There are many issues discussed in the agreement that have direct and indirect impacts on decision-making at the local and urban levels. Particular highlights include:
- Paragraph 10 on the Whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach: “This is a framework for all - for the whole of government and the whole of society. Its success requires political will and recognition at the highest level of government, and relies on action and cooperation by all levels of government and by all actors of society”
- In particular, Target 12 is focused on urban areas and it states: “Significantly increase the area and quality and connectivity of, access to, and benefits from green and blue spaces in urban and densely populated areas sustainably, by mainstreaming the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and ensure biodiversity-inclusive urban planning, enhancing native biodiversity, ecological connectivity and integrity, and improving human health and well-being and connection to nature and contributing to inclusive and sustainable urbanization and the provision of ecosystem functions and services.” However, most of the 23 targets have an urban component when the direct and indirect impacts of urban areas are considered. Within the first section on reducing threats to biodiversity, every target has implications for urban areas: Target 1 encourages participatory management of natural areas, Target 2 calls for 30% of degraded areas to be restored, Target 3 calls for the protection of 30% of land and aquatic areas, Target 4 seeks to reduce risks of species extinction, Target 5 ensures sustainable harvest and trade of wild species, Target 6 reduces the impacts of invasive species, Target 7 reduces pollution, and Target 8 explores linkages with climate change. Within the second section on meeting people’s needs through sustainable use and benefit-sharing, target 11 on enhancing ecosystem services and target 12 on urban areas are of particular interest. Within the third and final section on tools and solutions for implementation and mainstreaming, Target 14 on mainstreaming, Target 16 on reducing consumption, Target 21 on information and awareness-raising, and Targets 22 and 23 on equitable and gender-responsive participation and decision-making are particularly relevant.
- Section K encourages increasing the awareness of biodiversity by all sectors of society
There is also agreement CBD/COP/15/L22 called “engagement with subnational governments, cities, and other local authorities to enhance implementation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework” This document calls for the involvement of local governments in national biodiversity strategies as well as support for local biodiversity strategy development and implementation, including capacity-building assistance and financial resources. It encourages collaboration between governance institutions and private institutions, emphasizes the important role of local governments in raising public awareness, and calls for monitoring and measurement of local biodiversity efforts, particularly through tools such as the Singapore Index for Cities’ Biodiversity.
