What's Happening?
The 17th UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP17), which included COP17 and COP-MOPs, concluded on October 31 after two weeks of negotiations. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) expressed regret that the conference did not welcome
the entry into force of the BBNJ Agreement (High Seas Biodiversity Treaty), which is crucial for ocean conservation. The conference marked the first global review of progress towards the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) targets, revealing that the world is not on track to meet the 2030 goals. IUCN highlighted the importance of the BBNJ Agreement for achieving the 2030 targets and noted the synergies between it and the CBD, especially as the international community prepares for the BBNJ's first COP in January 2027. Another concern raised by IUCN was the removal of references to advisory opinions from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and the International Court of Justice regarding climate change and international law.
Why It's Important?
The lack of progress and the expressed regrets from IUCN at the UN Biodiversity Conference underscore significant challenges in global environmental governance. The failure to welcome the BBNJ Agreement's entry into force could impede efforts to conserve and sustainably use the global ocean, which is vital for biodiversity and climate regulation. The revelation that the world is not on track to meet the 2030 biodiversity targets signals a critical need for accelerated action and stronger commitments from nations. The removal of references to key international legal opinions on climate change further weakens the framework for addressing environmental challenges, potentially undermining the legal basis for future climate and biodiversity actions. This situation has implications for global ecosystems, climate stability, and the long-term sustainability of natural resources.
What's Next?
The international community will prepare for the first Conference of the Parties (COP) for the BBNJ Agreement in January 2027, where further discussions on ocean conservation are expected. IUCN will continue to support the Presidency and Parties in addressing implementation gaps, capacity-building, and monitoring. The Yerevan pathway for accelerating implementation and other decisions made at COP17, such as progress on marine biodiversity and the review of inland waters biodiversity, will guide future actions. The establishment of an open-ended ad hoc working group for the Cali Fund, a financial mechanism for digital sequence information, will also move forward ahead of COP18 in Quito, Ecuador, in 2028. Future milestones include the IUCN World Protected and Conserved Areas Congress and the 6th International Marine Protected Areas Congress in 2027, which are expected to drive progress on 2030 targets.
Beyond the Headlines
The challenges highlighted at the UN Biodiversity Conference reflect a broader struggle in translating international commitments into effective action. The reluctance to fully embrace agreements like the BBNJ and the omission of critical legal references suggest underlying political and economic resistances to comprehensive environmental protection. This situation could lead to a fragmentation of efforts, making it harder to achieve holistic conservation goals. The increasing recognition of non-state actors, including Indigenous Peoples and local communities, in biodiversity governance, while positive, also highlights the limitations of state-centric approaches. The ongoing struggle to secure adequate financial flows for biodiversity further complicates the implementation of ambitious frameworks, raising questions about global equity and shared responsibility for environmental stewardship.
