Background and issues
The international community − both States and the civil society − has long been engaged in halting biodiversity loss, with concrete efforts in this direction being undertaken through public policy measures, economic instruments and voluntary initiatives by stakeholders of all kinds. Despite limited local successes, current assessments and projections regarding habitat loss, extinction rates of species and the projected decline in ecosystem services over the 21 st century are getting increasingly pessimistic by the day.
After the failure to meet international targets set for 2010, the major international commitments currently structuring international efforts date back to the COP10 to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Nagoya. It seems unlikely that these “Aichi Targets” (as they are commonly called) for halting biodiversity loss by 2020 will be achieved. A true crisis of governance and action is underfoot. It is therefore essential to already begin a process of reflection for potential options to advance the international framework for the governance of biodiversity.
Moreover, in 2011, France adopted a national strategy for biodiversity which translates the international objectives to its national context. The timeframe for review of this national strategy is similar to the review timeframe set out by the CBD at the international level. In this context, IDDRI, with the support of the French Biodiversity Agency, is developing a three-year project aimed at supporting the strengthening of ambition and efficiency of international biodiversity governance post-2020.
Objectives
This project comprises three main lines of action:
- Generating proposals based on analysis and research studies (both theoretical and field work).
- Identifying and building a network of state and non-state actors to contribute to the analytical/research work but also to act as its interlocutor within institutional frameworks.
- Interacting and communicating with institutional players to bring these proposals to international negotiations and help promote their translation into policy commitments.
The international evaluation and review outcomes should also be used to inform national discussions, not
only due to the parallel structures of both strategies, but also with a view to using the international
assessment of obstacles and actionable levers to guide the revision of the National Biodiversity Strategy
(SNB in French).
Associated events in 2020
The year 2020 was marked by the global health crisis linked to Covid-19, which brought to the forefront crucial social and economic issues.
In order to respond to these issues in an appropriate manner and continue the road towards COP 15, IDDRI and its partners have developed various multi-stakeholder discussion spaces via, in particular, the organization of webinars.
International cooperation and links between climate and biodiversity
In 2020, IDDRI, in partnership with the Canadian Embassy to France, organized a series of three webinars to help maintain international dialogue, particularly in view of the deadlines of COP 15 biodiversity and COP 26 climate, which will be held in 2021. The aim of these events is to strengthen exchanges on a genuine reconstruction diplomacy that is compatible with ecological transition, by combining analyses of global issues and regional focuses.
- 30 April 2020: What international agenda for climate and biodiversity in the post-Covid-19 recovery plans?
- 17 July 2020: Post-Covid-19 reconstruction and biodiversity in Africa
- 25 September 2020: What ambition for the COP 15 on biodiversity in South and South-East Asia?
IDDRI also led a thematic webinar, as part of the Online Consultation Process on the role of sub-national governments, cities and other local authorities in the development of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, organized by the Edinburgh Process in coordination with the CBD.
Focus on China
CBD COP15 will be held in Kunming, China.
The analysis of the Chinese context and the discussion with key actors is crucial to understand what the main issues will be and what the keys to success will be.
In 2020, IDDRI has organized two dedicated webinars:
- 9 April 2020: Impacts of Covid-19 on China's economy and future climate action: perspectives from Chinese actors
- 24 April 2020 : The impacts of Covid-19 on wildlife management policies in China and the preparation of biodiversity COP15
Mobilising French stakeholders
In addition, IDDRI also pursued the organisation of the Biodiversity Platform 2020, to enable French stakeholders to better follow the news of the COP 15. the last session was held on 19 March 2020.
Associated events in 2021
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6 April and 7 April 2021: Closed expert workshop: "A framework for all? A framework for all Options to operationalize mainstreaming in and of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework" organized in partnership with the post-2020 framework and Expertise France
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21 April and 22 April 2021: Closed expert workshop: "Reinforcing integrated spatial planning policies and tools for biodiversity: lessons and perspectives for COP 15 & the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework"; organized in partnership with the post 2020 framework and Expertise France
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26 April and 28 April 2021: Closed expert workshop: "The numerical aspects of post-2020 goals and targets for biodiversity: assessing the range of options", organized in partnership with the post-2020 framework and Expertise France
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29 November and 1 December 2021: Closed expert workshop: "What review mechanism to ensure the ambition of the post-2020 biodiversity framework?" in French, organized in partnership with the Swiss Confederation and the French office of Biodiversity (OFB)
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10 December and 17 December 2021: Closed expert workshop: " Atelier "Anchoring of non-state action in the processes of the United Nations Biodiversity Convention: institutional and operational options" organized in partnership with the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL)
