The Convention on Biological Diversity
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is a multilateral environmental agreement on:
- (1) the conservation of biodiversity;
- (2) the sustainable use of the components of biodiversity;
- (3) the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.
The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the governing body of the CBD, which advances implementation of the Convention through the decisions that are considered and adopted at its meetings. These meetings are normally held every two years.
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
At the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) in Montreal in December 2022, Parties to the CBD adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). At the heart of the GBF is a comprehensive and ambitious set of 23 targets, nested within four goals, to reach the global vision of a world living in harmony with nature by 2050. Governments are expected to use the GBF as a template for national biodiversity strategy and action planning until the end of the current decade.
CBD COP16
The next meeting of the Conferrence of the Parties (COP16) will be from 21 October to 1 November in Cali, Colombia. Among the many items on the agenda are progress on the preparation of targets and updating of national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs) in line with the GBF. Learn more about this and other key talking points in a recent IGES interview with CBD experts in the webinar link and other links below.