IISD at the Convention on Biological Diversity's COP 15
As UN negotiators convene in Montreal, Canada, this December in a bid to conclude a new global biodiversity framework, the results could have lasting implications for policy areas ranging from trade to food security to infrastructure.
High Stakes as Negotiators Prepare for Montreal Talks
Push is on to clinch highly anticipated biodiversity framework
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is set to convene for its resumed Fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP 15) from December 7 to 19, 2022, in Montreal, Canada, with negotiators working to clinch a new global biodiversity framework (GBF) that will set a series of goals and underlying targets for a "nature-positive future."
The previous set of goals and targets that have guided international biodiversity conservation efforts in recent years, the 2011–2020 Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and its 20 Aichi Targets, expired in 2020, with the COVID-19 pandemic stymying plans to already have a GBF ready to take their place.
The first part of the CBD COP 15 took place in Kunming, China, and online last year. While China is the meeting's host, travel restrictions and other challenges related to the pandemic led to the resumed COP 15 venue being moved to Montreal, where the CBD secretariat is located.
The IISD team will be actively engaged in COP 15, with reporting from our Earth Negotiations Bulletin team, as well as side events on topics ranging from nature and climate change adaptation to the use of inclusive wealth as a measure of progress and sustainability.
We will also be following the developments in Montreal closely for what they mean for addressing environmentally harmful subsidies; the final shape of the 30x30 target; the signals that COP 15 sends for scaling up nature-based solutions, including nature-based infrastructure; the linkages between nature-based solutions finance and climate finance; and how the results of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change's (UNFCCC) Twenty-seventh Conference of the Parties (COP 27) can inform the Global Biodiversity Framework.
Stay in the know with Earth Negotiations Bulletin
Our team of environmental reporters will be providing daily updates from the negotiations in Montreal this December, building on their long track record of providing transparency and ensuring accessibility in international environmental diplomacy.
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Our Insights on Biodiversity
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Cities around the world are struggling to provide people with the infrastructure they need to thrive. How can nature-based infrastructure foster sustainable cities?
From Sharm el-Sheikh to Montreal: Seizing the moment for the biodiversity–climate nexus at COP 15
The Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework negotiations at the UN Biodiversity Conference in Montreal represent a once-in-a-decade moment to set an ambitious agenda for biodiversity conservation.
The Global Biodiversity Framework's "30x30" Target: Catchy slogan or effective conservation goal?
In the lead-up to COP 15, we take a closer look at one of the key targets included under the proposed Global Biodiversity Framework.
The WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies: What it means and why it matters
After more than two decades of negotiations, members of the World Trade Organization concluded an Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies in June 2022. What does it entail, and why does this treaty matter?
A Natural Path to Conflict Prevention: Unpacking the nature–security nexus
Despite the global scale of nature loss, its security implications are not sufficiently understood. A beekeeping project in Gabon shows how actions to protect, restore, and sustainably manage biodiversity and ecosystems are crucial for conflict prevention and security.
World Trade Organization Talks on Agricultural Subsidies Should Consider Trade-Offs Among Trade, Food Security, and the Environment
Facundo Calvo, agricultural policy analyst for IISD, discusses the WTO’s approach to agricultural subsidies from a trade, food security, and an environmental perspective.
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Our COP 15 Experts
Nathalie Bernasconi-Osterwalder
Vice-President, Global Strategies and Managing Director, Europe
Liesbeth Casier
Lead, Public Procurement and Sustainable Infrastructure and Coordinator of the NBI Global Resource Centre
Alec Crawford
Director, Nature for Resilience
Richard Florizone
Distinguished Fellow
Anne Hammill
Associate Vice-President, Resilience
Nicole Jang
Policy Analyst I
Veronica Lo
Senior Policy Advisor
Mauricio Luna Rodríguez
Senior Policy Advisor, Climate Change Adaptation Governance
Benjamin Simmons
Director, Sustainable Infrastructure
Anika Terton
Senior Policy Advisor and Lead
Elsa Tsioumani (PhD)
Writer/Editor Earth Negotiations Bulletin
Jeffrey Qi
Policy Advisor I
Lynn Wagner
Senior Director, Tracking Progress
Essential Viewing: COP 15 Side Events
COP 15 Side Event | Nature-Based Climate Solutions: Enhancing biodiversity co-benefits
This event will examine how to generate measurable biodiversity co-benefits through nature-based climate solutions.
COP 15 Side Event | Briefing on Inclusive Wealth Report 2022 launch at COP 15
The Inclusive Wealth Report 2022 undertakes a comprehensive global assessment of the Inclusive Wealth of 163 countries between 1992–2019.
UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15) Halfway Point Webinar
Midway through the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15) in Montreal, join the Earth Negotiations Bulletin team to discuss progress made, obstacles thus far, and what lies ahead heading into week two.
COP 15 Side Event | The Role of Nature-Based Infrastructure in Sustainable Cities
This UN Biodiversity Conference COP 15 side event is organized by the Nature-based Infrastructure Global Resource Centre and will focus on the role of NBI in sustainable cities.
COP 15 | Rio Conventions Pavilion: Nature and Climate Thematic Afternoon
This event will feature a series of sessions highlighting the importance of synergies between biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation for the successful implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework and scaling up of climate and nature initiatives.
China’s Role in Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development
This UN Biodiversity Conference COP 15 side event is organized by CCICED and will focus on China’s role in biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
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