A global biodiversity framework represents an international agreement designed to address the escalating crisis of nature loss. Its overarching purpose is to halt and reverse the ongoing decline in biodiversity, fostering a future where humanity lives in harmony with the natural world. This framework serves as a roadmap for collective action, guiding efforts to safeguard the planet’s diverse species and ecosystems.
The Urgent Need for Action
The planet is experiencing an unprecedented rate of biodiversity loss, far exceeding natural background extinction rates. Species are disappearing 10 to 1,000 times faster than typical, indicating Earth has entered a “sixth mass extinction event” driven primarily by human activities. The World Wildlife Fund’s Living Planet Report 2022 documented an average 69% decline in wildlife populations globally between 1970 and 2018, with freshwater species populations showing an even greater decline of 83% over the same period. This widespread decline impacts various animal groups, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, leading scientists to declare a biodiversity crisis in both land and ocean ecosystems.
The primary drivers of this loss include habitat destruction, land use intensification, pollution, over-exploitation, invasive species, and climate change. For instance, 75% of ice-free land and 63% of oceans have been transformed by human activity, with 85% of global wetlands already destroyed. Biodiversity loss affects ecosystem functions and services that are fundamental to human well-being, such as clean air and water, food security, and climate regulation. An October 2020 analysis by Swiss Re found that one-fifth of all countries face the risk of ecosystem collapse due to human-induced habitat destruction and increased wildlife loss.
Key Goals and Targets
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), adopted on December 19, 2022, under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), is the core international agreement addressing biodiversity loss. This framework outlines four overarching goals to be achieved by 2050, focusing on maintaining the integrity, resilience, and connectivity of ecosystems, halting human-induced extinction of threatened species, promoting sustainable use of biodiversity, and ensuring equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources. The GBF also includes 23 action-oriented global targets to be met by 2030, categorized into three areas: reducing threats to biodiversity, meeting people’s needs through sustainable use and benefit-sharing, and providing tools and solutions for implementation.
One widely recognized target is “30×30” (Target 3), aiming to conserve at least 30% of terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine areas by 2030. This target emphasizes effective conservation through ecologically representative, well-connected, and equitably governed systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, with a recognition of Indigenous and traditional territories. Other significant targets for 2030 include restoring at least 30% of degraded terrestrial, inland water, coastal, and marine ecosystems, and reducing the rates of introduction and establishment of known or potential invasive alien species by at least 50%. The framework also seeks to minimize the impact of climate change and ocean acidification on biodiversity and reduce pollution risks from all sources.
Pathways to Implementation
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is implemented through national and international efforts. A primary mechanism involves countries developing and updating their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), which translate global targets into national priorities and actions. These plans guide policy development and resource allocation to achieve the framework’s objectives.
Resource mobilization is another aspect of implementation, encompassing financial resources, capacity building, and technological transfer. The framework aims to close a biodiversity finance gap by increasing financial flows to nature-based solutions. This involves reducing harmful subsidies by at least $500 billion per year and increasing international financial cooperation. Monitoring, reporting, and review processes track progress towards the 2030 targets and 2050 goals. A transparency mechanism ensures countries regularly report on implementation efforts, allowing for periodic assessments of collective progress.
Global Collaboration and Impact
Achieving the ambitious objectives of the Global Biodiversity Framework relies on global cooperation among diverse stakeholders. Governments are responsible for setting national targets and policies. Indigenous Peoples and local communities play a recognized role in conservation, given their traditional knowledge and stewardship of biodiverse areas. Civil society organizations, the private sector, and academia are also important for providing expertise, innovation, and additional resources.
The framework’s long-term impact is to halt and reverse biodiversity loss, moving towards a nature-positive world by 2030 and achieving nature recovery by 2050. This vision aims to ensure that the integrity, resilience, and connectivity of ecosystems are maintained or restored, and that the extinction of threatened species is halted. Success in these endeavors will contribute to sustainable development and benefit both present and future generations. Its ultimate realization depends on sustained commitment and collective action from all actors across society.