Highlights and images for 22 May 2024

On the International Day for Biodiversity, delegates gathered in the room at the UN headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, where exactly 32 years ago, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was adopted.

The International Day for Biodiversity 2024, under the theme “Be part of the Plan,” was celebrated with a a tree-planting ceremony, a special event over lunchtime, and a shared “break bread for nature” lunch.

Want to dig deeper into today's talks? Read the full Earth Negotiations Bulletin daily report.

Some delegates highlighted that the best way to honor the occasion is by progressing on items under discussion at the fourth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI 4), in particular on resource mobilization and the financial mechanism, which are critical for effective implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

On resource mobilization and the financial mechanism, delegates discussed, among other things:

• progress towards relevant GBF goals and the need to close the financing gap;
• obligations for developed country parties under the CBD;
• the biodiversity finance landscape;
• whether to establish a global biodiversity fund under the Conference of the Parties (COP), or continue with arrangements under the Global Environment Facility (GEF), including the GBF Fund;
• addressing benefit sharing from the use of digital sequence information;
• involvement of the private sector;
• addressing perverse incentives;
• the draft revised strategy for resource mobilization 2025-2030;
• potential positive and negative impacts of market-based solutions; and
• the need for direct access to funding for Indigenous Peoples and local communities, women, youth, and other rights- and stakeholders.

A coalition of non-governmental organizations launched the “USD 20 billion x 25 for nature” campaign, calling on developed country parties, and countries voluntarily assuming developed country parties’ obligations, to urgently accelerate efforts to increase finance for developing country parties.

On capacity building and development, technical and scientific cooperation, technology transfer, the clearing-house mechanism, and knowledge management, delegates highlighted the development of a mechanism, comprising regional and subregional technical and scientific support centers, to be potentially coordinated by a global coordination entity. Many delegates welcomed the network of support centers. Discussions focused on the global coordinating entity, with parties expressing diverging views.

Many delegates further welcomed the work programme on the clearing-house mechanism and supported adopting the knowledge management strategy. Discussions will continue Thursday.

International Day for Biodiversity

UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Inger Andersen opened the event, stressing that the GBF, also known as the Biodiversity Plan, is “the Plan for life.” 

John Elungata, Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry (Kenya) called on delegates to “renew our collective commitment to protect and restore the natural world,” recalling the impacts of recent unprecedented flooding in Kenya. In a video message, COP 15 President Huang Runqiu, Minister of Ecology and Environment (China), emphasized the importance of involving everyone across society to implement the Biodiversity Plan, urging concerted action towards the vision of living in harmony with nature. Kelly Torck (Canada) urged GEF contributions and action by all. Ambassador Pedro León Cortés Ruíz (Colombia), for the COP 16 Presidency, highlighted its theme, “Peace with Nature,” noting that nature is a consolidating factor in peace-building.

Joji Cariño, International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity, underlined that power and worldview imbalances shape relationships with nature, pointing to Indigenous Peoples’ ways of life that embody possibilities for the future. Amelia Arreguín Prado, CBD Women’s Caucus, stressed interlinkages between gender, justice, and biodiversity conservation, urging to grow “the seed of gender justice,” so that by 2030 “we can see the fruits of our actions taken today.” Heitor Dellasta, Global Youth Biodiversity Network, urged effective and meaningful participation of those already on the frontlines of action towards the Biodiversity Plan, namely youth and other rights- and stakeholders.

SBI 4 Chair Chirra Achalender Reddy (India) urged delegates to “be the change you want,” and to work together to achieve the “future we want” for current and future generations, and for all forms of life. CBD Acting Executive Secretary David Cooper noted that actions and policies do work — and if given the chance, nature will bounce back.