Presentation
The “zero draft” of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework published on January 13th, tby the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is an important moment on the road to CBD COP15 (scheduled for 15-28 October in Kunming, China), where the post-2020 framework will be adopted. While several key components of the framework still need to be developed, this Policy Brief assesses the first orientations proposed by the draft, and identifies the priorities for negotiations, and overall mobilisation, for the remaining months before COP15.
Key Messages
- The zero draft confirms the orientations of OEWG1 (Nairobi, August 2019): the proposed text displays ambition, on most goals and targets, but also contains chapters on implementation and responsibility and transparency mechanisms, that are fundamental for the consistency of the framework and its intended theory of change. It should be seen as a “working basis in the making”. It is only after OEWG3 (Cali, Colombia, July 2020) that a complete working basis will be produced for the actual, full-on negotiation of COP15.
- Mobilisation of States and other stakeholders is, ahead and during upcoming negotiation landmarks, essential for: (i) ensuring that the highest ambition is reached on the goals and targets of the post-2020 framework, (ii) reaffirming the importance of the implementation and transparency elements of the framework, so as to make sure that sufficient attention will be paid to these crucial elements in the coming months.
- The proposed framework is comprehensive and contains all necessary components to build an ambitious outcome for COP15. Rather than inflating the text with too many additional concerns or details about the goals and targets, negotiators should aim at keeping the text as concise as possible and develop the indicators and monitoring framework, as well as the implementation and transparency elements. Inflating the text offers ground for obstruction and/or diversion strategies.
- “Mainstreaming” of biodiversity will be crucial for implementing the post-2020 framework. Other multilateral institutions and processes, especially those concerning productive sectors, must be more involved in the development and implementation of the post-2020 framework. The same goes for non-state actors from the sectors and other parts of society who display a biodiversity ambition. Domestic mainstreaming is indeed also a key to success.
