BRIDGING THE GAP
TRANSLATING POLITICAL COMMITMENTS INTO AN
AMBITIOUS GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY FRAMEWORK© Martin Harvey / WWF

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report evaluates the first draft of the post-2020
Global Biodiversity Framework (hereafter referred
to as “first draft”) against several recent collective
commitments and multi-country declarations, statements
and resolutions. The comparative analysis finds that, inmany areas, the first draft falls far short of the highest

level of ambition to which governments have alreadycommitted. Specifically, the paper identifies nine areasin which the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) should
be strengthened in future negotiations to reflect thesehigher ambitions to which many parties of the Convention
on Biological Diversity have already committed.

Key messages
The first six areas to be strengthened are covered by explicit
language in other multi-country declarations, statements
and resolutions which can be replicated in the GBF:
1.

2.

3.

BRIDGING THE GAP: TRANSLATING POLITICAL COMMITMENTS INTO AN AMBITIOUS GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY FRAMEWORK

2Overall ambition: Increasing the overall objective
to “halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030” tosecure a nature positive world such that there is morenature in the world in 2030 than there was in 2020
Extinctions & species abundance: Securing
a milestone/outcome to halt human induced
extinction of species from 2022 (i.e. immediately)
and increase species abundance by 2030
Sustainable production & consumption:
Including a Milestone (or outcome) to halve thefootprint of production and consumption by
2030, particularly given the current planetary
emergency is in large part due to unsustainable
and inequitable consumption and production

4.

Nature-based solutions: Securing references
to nature-based solutions in the text tocomplement current mentions of ecosystem
based approaches, ensuring that they are
deployed equitably and with a focus on Indigenous
Peoples’ and Local Communities’ rights

5.

Harmful subsidies: Committing to reform financial
systems, including through ending or repurposing
all harmful incentives and aligning public andprivate financial flows to be nature positive

6.

Area-based conservation: Including explicit
recognition of the rights of Indigenous Peoples andLocal Communities (IPLCs) and the importance of
attaining their free, prior and informed consent
for spatial conservation decisions and actionsin the spatial conservation target (Target 3)

The remaining recommendations are called for in othermulti-country declarations, statements and resolutions but
specific wording to be included in the GBF is not covered:
7.

Rights-based approach: Ensuring a rightsbased approach, including gender equality, atthe core of the GBF and its implementation

8.

Strong implementation mechanism: Including
a strong planning, monitoring, reporting andreview mechanism essential to avoid repeating
the failure to deliver on the Aichi targets andallow a ratcheting up of action over time

9.

Linking between conventions: Forging
a closer alignment with other multilateralenvironmental agreements and the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development

3

Recommendations
With only a short window of opportunity to secure a historic
agreement for nature that will support the survival of all lifeon earth, the report makes the following recommendations:

All CBD parties, including from the G7 and G20,
which have endorsed any of the main collaborative
commitments and agreements assessed should:

Members of the three coalitions Leaders’ Pledge for
Nature (LPN), the High Ambition Coalition for Nature& People (HAC for N&P) and Global Ocean Alliance(GOA) should urgently:

a.

a.

b.

Form and articulate a view on the desired structureof an action-oriented ratcheting implementation
mechanism and work together to ensure inclusion in
the GBF
Coordinate to achieve the inclusion of the above
mentioned 9 key areas in the text of the GBF, in linewith past commitments, and help find bridging solutionscommensurate with the scale of the interconnected
global crises

Leaders’ Pledge for Nature (LPN) Head of State andGovernment endorsers should:
a.

b.

c.

d.

Push for the ambitions to which they are alreadycommitted – highlighted in Figure 1 – to be includedin the text of the GBF, specifically points 1 (overall
objective) and 4 (nature-based solutions) listed above
Begin mobilizing resources for nature to support
negotiations and immediate, full, and effective
implementation
Ensure the final COP15 decision has specific languagethat provides Parties guidance and option(s) to facilitate
the continuity of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development, aligned with the adopted GBF
Realise the ambitions set out in IUCN WCC 2020
Resolutions 116 & 125

The report contains a navigator tool (Annex 2) to help
identify the specific language that can be used to strengthen
the GBF and which sections of the First Draft the language
could be applied to.

Mandate ministers and civil servants from acrossthe whole government to fulfil the commitments of
the LPN and urgently task CBD negotiating teams
with translating the ambitious LPN agenda into CBDnegotiations

PLEASE NOTEThis paper is limited in scope to identifying specific gaps between the first draft of the GBF and othercollective commitments, declarations and resolutions made by a significant number of parties to the
CBD and, as such, does not represent WWF’s position. In many instances, WWF’s science-based position
is more ambitious than the ambition reflected in the various commitments analysed in this report.

© Jim Balog / WWF

BRIDGING THE GAP: TRANSLATING POLITICAL COMMITMENTS INTO AN AMBITIOUS GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY FRAMEWORK

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CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY		2

INTRODUCTION		
6

ANALYSIS		
8
Section 1: The First Draft compared to specific 			commitments made in other document				8

Section 2: The First Draft compared to general		commitments made in other documents				

12

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR CBD PARTIES TO ADDRESS THE GAP		

14

REFERENCES		
18
ANNEX 1: ENDORSER AND SIGNATORIES OF POLITICAL COMMITMENTS		 19ANNEX 2: NAVIGATOR

20© Shutterstock / SantiPhotoSS / WWF

Authors:
Claire Blanchard, Felix Hamer
Contributors:
Guido Broekhoven, Luca Chinotti, Gavin Edwards, Scott Edwards,
Cristina Eghenter, Wendy Elliott, Jonathan Hutton, Clement Metivier,
Marco Lambertini, Lin Li, Emily McCoy, Vanessa Morales, Florian Titze

Cover photography: © Green Renaissance / WWF-US
BRIDGING THE GAP: TRANSLATING POLITICAL COMMITMENTS INTO AN AMBITIOUS GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY FRAMEWORK

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INTRODUCTION
We face a planetary emergency. The interconnected crises of natureloss and climate change and the increasing risk of pandemics
derived from zoonoses are threats to the future of humanity.
Urgent and aligned action is essential to ensure our own
survival, and the survival of all life on Earth. We must act
now, with ambition commensurate with the challenge ahead,because there is no viable alternative if we aim too low.
At the 14th Conference of the Parties of the Convention
on Biological Diversity (CBD COP14), parties initiatedthe development of a post-2020 Global Biodiversity
Framework (GBF) to be adopted at the 15th meeting.
The first draft was released in the summer of 2021 and,
although an improvement from the zero draft, does
not achieve the baseline of ambition and commitments
made in other fora by multiple political leaders. The
GBF negotiations are still underway and there are still
many opportunities – and a clear need – for concerted,
coordinated, strategic and constructive efforts tobetter reflect key commitments and goals outlined
in other collective commitments and documents.

In this paper we have carried out an evaluation of the firstdraft against other collective coalitions, commitments,
declarations, and resolutions made by a significant
number of parties to the CBD (see annex 1). This includes:
CBD documents (the Kunming Declaration and the Aichi
targets), commitments from the world leaders such as
the Leaders’ Pledge for Nature (LPN, endorsed by 94
CBD parties); the High Ambition Coalition for Nature &People (HAC for N&P, endorsed by 77 CBD parties); theGlobal Ocean Alliance (GOA, endorsed by 70 CBD parties),
the CBD PreCOP joint coalition statement (endorsedby 116 CBD parties); the G7 2030 Nature Compact; theG20 Rome Leaders’ Declaration; and IUCN WCC 2020
Resolution 116, voted in favour by 98% of IUCN members
from the category of state and governmental agencies1.
We supplemented our analysis with interviews with key
stakeholders and coalitions like the Food and Land Use
Coalition (FOLU), the United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) and the Climate Action Tracker.
1. Endorser numbers correct as of 17/01/2021

PLEASE NOTEThis paper is limited in scope to identifying specific gaps between the first draft of the GBF and othercollective commitments, declarations and resolutions made by a significant number of parties to the
CBD and, as such, does not represent WWF’s position. In many instances, WWF’s science-based position
is more ambitious than the ambition reflected in the various commitments analysed in this report.

© Adam Dederer

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ANALYSISThe first draft contains some promising elements such as astrong numerical target for financial resource mobilisation(point v. below) and the commitment to protect andconserve 30% of land areas and sea areas by 2030 (point
vi. below). However, six specific areas (including thoseabove) identified in the first draft fall short of current
highest political ambition reflected in other multi-country
declarations, statements, and resolutions:

The following sections analyse the first draft against othercollective coalitions, commitments, declarations, andresolutions made by a significant number of parties to the CBD.
Section 1 focuses on the gap in ambition of targets,goals and milestones which are clearly defined in otherdocuments – such as the commitment to “halt andreverse biodiversity loss by 2030”, found in all collective
documents assessed. Section 2 identifies further areas ini. Overall objective as reflected in the mission statement

which the first draft may be considered to be falling shortof more general commitments in other documents – suchas the commitment to include a strong monitoring andimplementation mechanism in the GBF, made in the LPN.

Section 1: The First Draft compared to specific commitments made in other documents
Many Targets in First Draft Do Not Meet Current Highest-Ambition Commitments

Figure 1

CBD1

First
Draft

TargetOther Multilateral Commitments

High
Global
G7
G20
IUCN
Kunming Leaders' Ambition
Ocean
Nature Leaders' Resolution
Dec.
Pledge2 Coalition2 Alliance2 Compact
116
Dec.

Current Highest Ambition Text

Overallambition

Halt and reverse biodiversity loss to achieve anature-positive world by 2030 – IUCN Resolution
116

Extinctions &speciesabundance

By 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of
threatened species – Aichi Targets
The 2030 Milestone… recovery of the population
abundance of species – IUCN Resolution 116

Sustainable
Production &Consumption

Halving the footprint of production andconsumption by 2030 – IUCN Resolution 116
Transform the current unsustainable patterns ofconsumption and production into sustainable
ones to meet people’s need while remaining wellwithin the limits of planetary boundaries –PreCOP Joint Coalition Statement

Nature-based
Solutions

We will scale up and encourage theimplementation of Nature-based Solutions or
Ecosystem-based Approaches as valuable tools
providing economic, social, climate andenvironmental benefits – G20 Leaders'
Declaration

HarmfulSubsidies

By 2030… Eliminating or repurposing subsidies
and other incentives that are harmful to nature,
biodiversity and climate – Leaders' Pledge

Area based
conservation

at least 30% of terrestrial areas and inland
waters… and of coastal and marine areas,
respectively, are effectively and equitably
governed, protected and conserved… by 2030,
with the free, prior and informed consent ofindigenous peoples, and with appropriate
recognition of the rights of indigenous
peoples to their lands, territories and resources,
as set out under UNDRIP – IUCN Resolution 116

Key:

Highest ambition

Not highest ambition

The first draft includes the following mission – “to takeurgent action across society to conserve and sustainably
use biodiversity and ensure the fair and equitable sharingof benefits from the use of genetic resources, to put
biodiversity on a path to recovery by 2030”. This is weaker
than the commitment to “halt and reverse biodiversity loss
by 2030” which is reflected in: the LPN, the CBD PreCOP
Joint Coalition Statement; the G7 Nature Compact; the G20
Leaders’ Communique; the Kunming Declaration; and IUCN
WCC 2020 Resolution 116. In fact, the IUCN WCC 2020
Resolution 116 goes further by adding “to ensure a NaturePositive world”. The goal to “halt biodiversity loss” is includedin SDG 15. Considering the latest evidence of biodiversity
emergency2, a revised mission for 2030 is imperative toachieve the 2050 Vision of the CBD - to live in harmony
with nature. This means the world needs not only to halt
the current loss of biodiversity but also reverse it to ensure
that, by 2030, we have more nature than we had in 2020.
It is crucial that this level of ambition is reflected in the
final draft of the GBF.
ii. Including milestone/outcome to halt human induced
extinction of species from 2022 (i.e. immediately) andincrease species abundance by 2030
The first draft only requires that the “increase in theextinction rate is halted or reversed, and the extinction risk
is reduced by at least 10 per cent” (Milestone A.2). This is alarge step down from Aichi Target 12 which commits that“by 2020, the extinction of known threatened species has
been prevented”, a level of ambition also reflected in SDG
15.5 which commits signatories to, “by 2020, protect andprevent the extinction of threatened species”. Halting humaninduced extinction of species is also enshrined in the LPN,
G7 2030 Nature Compact and IUCN WCC 2020 Resolution
116 which goes further, calling for the milestone of “recoveryof the population abundance of species” by 2030. To reflect
the highest ambition for the GBF, CBD parties should push
for the inclusion of both the goal of preventing the extinctionof threatened species from 2022 (i.e. immediately) and theincreased ambition for recovery of population abundancefrom IUCN WCC 2020 Resolution 116 by 2030.

Unclear3

1. Only CBD documents assessed for not highest ambition and unclear categories; 2. Includes the PreCOP Joint Coalition Statement; 3. Where targets do notinclude time limits, they are counted as being uncleariii. Ensuring sustainable production and consumption
to meet people’s needs while remaining well within thelimits of planetary boundaries
Recent publications such as the IPBES Global Biodiversity
Report emphasise that the interdependent crises of
biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation and climatechange are driven in large part by unsustainable production
and consumption.
However, the first draft lacks specific and detailed targets
for addressing the drivers of biodiversity loss. The theoryof change is that transformative actions are taken to“ensure that biodiversity is used sustainably in order tomeet people’s needs” and there are multiple references to“sustainable use” but, in its current form (Goal B), there isno clear roadmap to achieving this goal. This wording falls
far short of the current highest-ambition commitment toaddress the footprint of our production and consumption
which is enshrined in the IUCN WCC 2020 Resolution
116 - voted in favour by 98% of IUCN members from thecategory of state and governmental agencies, including
Parties of the CBD. These governments agreed in the
motion to set a Milestone (or outcome) of “halving of the
footprint of consumption and production” by 2030. A similar
goal to that of IUCN WCC 2020 Resolution 116 is reflectedin both Commitment 4 of the LPN and the PreCOP Joint
Coalition statement made by the LPN, HAC for N&P and
the GOA which both encourage signatories to secure the
GBF commitment to “transform the current unsustainable
patterns of consumption and production into sustainable
ones to meet people’s need while remaining well within
planetary boundaries”.
To align with science, the first draft needs to greatly
strengthen overall consumption and production goals andinclude specific action targets on key drivers - including: foodand agriculture production and consumption; unsustainablefisheries, forestry and infrastructure; mining and seabedmining - which amount to an ambition consistent withhalving the footprint of consumption and production by
2030, in line with an overall mission of reversing biodiversity
loss by 2030. Other collective commitments include specificand ambitious targets from which the final text of the GBF
could draw. For example, 140 parties - representing 90.94%
of all forests and 91% of global GDP - endorsed the Glasgow
Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use at COP26
which makes a clear commitment to “halt and reverse forest
loss and land degradation by 2030”. Similarly, in the LPN,
endorsers commit to “significantly reducing pollution in theair, on land, in soil, freshwater and the ocean, in particular byeliminating plastic leakage to the ocean by 2050”.

2. Highlighted in, for example, IPBES (2019): Global assessment report on
biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental SciencePolicy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

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to nature, biodiversity and climate”. This is also enshrinedin the joint statement made by the LPN, HAC for N&P and
the GOA, and IUCN WCC 2020 Resolution 116. The Kunming
Declaration also commits to “eliminating, phasing out or
reforming subsidies and other incentives that are harmful
to biodiversity” but does not provide a time-limit within
which CBD parties should do so. Without stopping harm tonature through negative incentives and repurposing suchincentives to be nature positive, it will be impossible toreverse biodiversity loss by 2030. In fact, the CBD PreCOP
Joint Coalition Statement, endorsed by 115 countries and theEuropean Union6, goes a step further and calls for a GBF that
ensures the elimination of harmful incentives while creating
positive incentives.

© Green Renaissance / WWF-US

iv. Inclusion of nature-based solutions
One of the most notable exclusions from the first draft was
any mention of nature-based solutions (NbS). Nature-based
solutions are an important tool to address societal challenges,
including climate change as well as food- and water- security
amongst others, through an intervention on nature. They
are mentioned in the LPN; the CBD PreCOP Joint Coalition
Statement; the G7 2030 Nature Compact; the G20 RomeLeaders’ Declaration; IUCN WCC 2020 Resolution 116 andthe Kunming Declaration3, indicating the importance leadersattach to NbS as a tool to address the nature crisis and othersocietal challenges. Furthermore, various UN resolutions
adopted by a large number of parties to the CBD such as
A/RES/74/240 & E/HLS/2021/1 further emphasise the role ofnature-based solutions in combating climate change and theneed to invest in NbS. Finally, while the term “nature-based
solutions’’ was not included in the final text of the Glasgow
Climate Pact, nature was recognised in the outcomes of
UNFCCC COP26 as a key solution to tackling climate change
and keeping 1.5C within reach.
The CBD, as the Convention on Biological Diversity, could
establish the biodiversity related framework building insafeguards within which nature-based solutions can operate,
and which will guarantee that NbS contribute to the realizationof the CBD’s objectives. The SBSTTA23 recommendation on
Biodiversity and climate change (CBD/SBSTTA/REC/23/2) notesthat “nature-based solutions with biodiversity safeguards arean essential component of ecosystem-based approaches
to climate change adaptation, mitigation and disaster risk

reduction.” Building on the high-level commitments and on
this SBSTTA recommendation, the GBF, as the overarchingplan for the conservation and management of biodiversity
this decade, plays a key role to provide the framework for
NbS. This will not only strengthen the application of NbS andpotentially unlock significant financial resources for the nature
agenda but also strengthen the linkages between the CBD andthe other Rio conventions (Section 2.ii below) and clarify thecomplementarity between NbS and EbA.
The use of the term “nature-based solutions” in the GBF
needs to include principles to ensure the right social andenvironmental safeguards to avoid human rights abuses whilst
protecting women’s and IPLC rights. Commitments to thesesafeguards could build on the G20 Rome Leaders’ Declaration4
and on the COP26 Glasgow Climate Pact5.
v. Reforming financial systems: Removing all harmful
incentives and aligning financial flows to be nature
positive
Whilst putting a figure of US$500bn on harmful subsidies may
provide a useful target, it is likely that this does not capture all
harmful subsidies. This number is based on the OECD reporton global biodiversity finance, which is a conservative estimate
and limited by the availability of reliable data. The OECD report
itself acknowledges that the “total volume of finance flowsthat are harmful to biodiversity (i.e. encompassing all public
and private expenditure) is likely to be many times larger.” Thehighest ambition, from the LPN, is “by 2030… Eliminating or
repurposing subsidies and other incentives that are harmful

In addition, the alignment of public and private financial
flows with nature positive outcomes is covered in “and otherincentives”7 in the LPN text. LPN endorsers have elaborated
on this in Commitment 9.a by committing to “incentivizing
the financial system, nationally and internationally,
including banks, funds, corporations, investors and financial
mechanisms, to align financial flows to environmental
commitments and the Sustainable Development Goals,
to take into account the value of nature and biodiversity,
promote biodiversity conservation, restoration and its
sustainable use in their investment and financing decisions,and in their risk management, as well as including throughencouraging the use of taxonomies.” In addition, the G7
Nature Compact commits to a range of concrete actions to
support this (Pillar Two: points A, C, D, and E). Finally, Goal
5 of the PreCOP Joint Coalition Statement calls for “Aligning
financial flows to a nature positive economy, bringing
business and the private sector, including the financial sector,
on board”.

The private sector is calling for a GBF that
ensures financial institutions and businessesalign financial flows to global biodiversity goals
Business for Nature (B4N) has developed a call toaction which calls “on governments to work together
and create a positive policy feedback-loop to spur
more business action and ambition” towards thegoal of reversing nature loss by 2030. At the timeof writing, this has been signed by more than
1000 companies representing revenues of morethan US$4.7 trillion. Similarly, in a joint statementin September 2021, 78 Financial Institutions
representing more than $10 trillion in assets called
for the creation of a more ambitious GBF with an
expectation for financial institutions and businesses
to align financial flows to global biodiversity goals
and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030.

Redirecting financial flows from the entire financial system
away from harm and towards nature positive activities has
the potential to dwarf government spending on biodiversity.
Given this potential and these commitments, aligning
financial flows should be addressed in a morecomprehensive manner in the GBF than is the case in theFirst Draft (Targets 14/15). Whilst the First Draft commits to“ensuring that all activities and financial flows are aligned withbiodiversity values”, the GBF should include specific mentionof the biggest constituent parts of the finance system, suchas the financial sector. It should also provide more clarityand guidance about the need for regulatory measures forbusinesses and financial institutions which will be crucial tofacilitate rapid implementation of policy to ensure this occurs.
© Martin Harvey / WWF

3. However WWF sees NbS and EbA as complementary concepts rather thanas different terms for one and the same concept, as inferred in the footnote
in the Kunming Declaration.

4. In which G20 members commit to “scale up and encourage theimplementation of Nature-based Solutions or Ecosystem-based
Approaches… in an inclusive manner and through the participation of local
communities and Indigenous Peoples”
5. Which highlights the importance of ‘ensuring social and environmental
safeguards’ in regard to protecting and conserving nature

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6. Accurate as of 02/12/2021
7. LPN 9.C “Eliminating or repurposing subsidies and other incentives thatare harmful to nature, biodiversity and climate while increasing significantly
the incentives with positive or neutral impact for biodiversity across all
productive sectors”

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vi. Explicit recognition of the rights of Indigenous Peoples
and Local Communities (IPLCs) and the inclusion of free,prior, and informed consent in Target 3 (30 by 30)
Whilst it is promising that the 30 by 30 target is includedin the first draft, and that this includes the stipulationof “effectively and equitably managed”, the wording of
this target falls short of the highest ambition reflected in
IUCN WCC 2020 Resolution 116 and the G7 2030 Nature
Compact. Resolution 116 includes the requirement for “free,prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples, and withappropriate recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples
to their lands, territories and resources as set out under
UNDRIP”. This requirement is repeated in IUCN WCC 2020
Resolution 125 which also calls for wider communicationthat the science is increasingly clear that conservation
or restoration of at least half of the planet is likely to benecessary to reverse biodiversity loss.
The G7 Nature Compact commits members to “supporting
new global targets to conserve or protect at least 30% of
global land and at least 30% of the global ocean by 2030
… and recognis[ing] Indigenous Peoples as well as local
communities as full partners in the implementation of thesetargets”. This has also been reflected by statements of the
HAC for Nature and People Taskforce on IPLCs. Whilst there

Section 2: The First Draft compared to general commitments made in other documents

is a strong element of this in the Theory of Change andin Target 21 of the first draft, recognition and securing of
IPLC rights to their lands and waters with their Free Prior
Informed Consent is fundamental to successful areabased conservation measures. Promisingly, the Kunming
Declaration includes the text “recognizing the rights ofindigenous peoples and local communities and ensuring
their full and effective participation” in Commitment 5 on
Spatial Conservation. All CBD Parties, and particularly those
who voted for IUCN WCC 2020 Resolutions 116 or 125,
or who are signatories of the HAC for Nature and People
should push to secure explicit mention of this in Target 3.

Alongside the six specific commitments covered in
Section 1, there are three main areas in which thefirst draft falls short of general commitments made inother collective commitments and agreement, namely:i) ensuring a rights-based approach, including genderequality, at the core of the GBF and its implementation,ii) ensuring a strong planning monitoring, reporting
and review mechanism, and iii) aligning conventions
to ensure that countries tackle the interdependent
environmental crises in an integrated manner.

Additionally, IUCN WCC 2020 Resolution 116 states that “By
2030… at least 30% of terrestrial areas and inland waters…
and of coastal and marine areas, respectively, are effectively
and equitably governed, protected and conserved” which isechoed in IUCN WCC 2020 Resolution 125. The specificationof terrestrial areas, inland waters, coastal and marine areas
in GBF target 3 will support efforts to ensure the quality andcombined biodiversity of protected and conserved areas
in any given country. CBD countries who voted for either
resolution should push for this level of increased specificity
in the final version of the GBF.

8. Section D, point 7

i. A rights-based approach, including gender equality,
at the core of the GBF and its implementation
As identified in Section 1 point 6 of this document, thefirst draft falls short in terms of ensuring a rights-based
approach throughout the document. It is included in the
Theory of Change9 and in Target 21 but, as with Target 3,
there are multiple places where an explicit link to a rightsbased approach – with specific goals and/or targets attached– should be included. The LPN endorsers commit to thedevelopment and full implementation of an ambitious andtransformational GBF that includes a “commitment to the fulland effective participation of indigenous peoples and local
communities in decision making and recognition of theirrights”, echoed in point 7 of the CBD PreCOP Joint Coalition
Statement. Similarly, in the G7 2030 Nature Compact the G7
countries commit to driving “global system change that works
for all, prioritising the inclusion of Indigenous Peoples aswell as local communities in co-design, decision-making andimplementation, and recognising the interests of vulnerable
and marginalised groups including people living in poverty,
women and girls, people with disabilities, and youth.”10
To better reflect the commitments outlined above, theGBF should look to specify how rights-based approaches,
including gender equality, should be applied and measured
for each goal, milestone, and target. Specific wordingfrom IUCN WCC 2020 Resolution 116 – which includes
rights-based approaches throughout – can be used as areference.11 Another example of this could be to reflect the
recent Human Rights Council resolution12 recognising the
Human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment,
passed by 43 of 47 participants, all of whom are CBD parties,
and mentioned several times by leaders at the COP15.1 in
Kunming, China in October 2022.

ii. An effective mechanism for planning, monitoring,
reporting and review
Perhaps the most concerning omission from the firstdraft is what the CBD PreCOP Joint Coalition Statement
calls “a strong monitoring and review mechanism to backup commitments”. The lack of a robust implementation
mechanism was a major contributing factor in the failure
to fulfil the Aichi Targets. The first draft recognizes
the importance of such a mechanism, and outlines
the critical role played by “effective mechanisms forplanning, monitoring, reporting and review” and includes
recommendations for countries regarding how to support
reporting. However, it provides no clear monitoring
and review processes other than an evaluation of
implementation progress at each CBD COP and – inAppendix point 5 – seems to open a window to delay thedecision to improve the implementation mechanism to
CBD COP16. Given the urgency of the planetary emergency
and extinction crisis and with the unfortunate delays dueto the COVID pandemic, the world and humanity cannot
afford such delays in implementation, and immediate
implementation upon adoption of the GBF should be theonly option on the table of CBD parties.
On this basis, all CBD parties need to address this gap in
the negotiations and members of the LPN, the HAC for
N&P and the GOA should urgently form and articulatea united view on what the core components of a strong
implementation mechanism are. They should then work
together to ensure that these are included in the GBF. One
clear example of a core component of an implementation
mechanism that works to improve outcomes is the ratchet
process which is included in the Paris Agreement. This isalso included in IUCN WCC 2020 Resolution 116 which calls
on IUCN members and invites CBD members to secure
the inclusion of “a strong implementation mechanism that
promotes responsibility and transparency that includes
national planning, reporting, periodic review, and whereconsistent with national legislation, ratchet and compliance,
as well as a global stocktake to assess collective progress
toward meeting the goals, milestones, and targets of theframework” in the GBF. A similar mechanism to this ratchetshould be agreed for the GBF with a focus on actions taken
to accelerate implementation and the delivery of global goals
and targets at the national level.

9. Section D, Point 7
10. Point D
11. Section 2: points J, N, O (i, iii), P, and R
12. A/HRC/48/L.23/Rev.1© Greg Armfield / WWF-UK

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iii. Forging a closer alignment between Multilateral
Environmental Agreements (MEAs)
Another deviation of the first draft from stated goals
found in other collective commitments, and multi-country
declarations, statements and resolutions is in the lack of
coordination between the first draft and other Multilateral
Environmental Agreements (MEAs).
Other documents have gone further to ensure convergenceand that the “interlinked global challenges of climate change
and biodiversity loss” (G20 Rome Leaders’ Declaration)
are recognised. Most recently, as previously mentioned,
the Glasgow Climate Pact has made the link clear by“Recognizing the interlinked global crises of climate change
and biodiversity loss” and emphasising the role to be playedby nature in mitigating and adapting to the climate crisis.
Also, in the LPN, signatories committed to pushing for the
inclusion of “commitments to strengthen the cooperation
among relevant MEAs, international organizations andprogrammes to contribute to effective and efficient
implementation of the biodiversity framework” in the GBF.
Finally, the G7 2030 Nature Compact states “We commit totackle these interdependent and mutually reinforcing crises(climate change and nature loss) in an integrated manner”.

The first draft includes the decision – in Appendix para 14.b– to delay any explicit coordination between the GBF andother MEAs until COP16. Similarly, whilst there are vague
mentions of aligning with other conventions in the first draft(e.g. Point J 19, Appendix para 11), the deletion of “naturebased solutions” in the first draft is concerning. These show
the lack of alignment and integration with other MEAs suchas the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development .

© Simon Rawles / WWF-UK

As per commitments made by the G20, the G7 and thesignatories of the LPN, HAC for N&P and GOA in the CBD
PreCOP Joint Coalition Statement, the GBF must be as
closely aligned as possible with the other MEAs and the2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to ensure
effective implementation of all commitments across these
agreements.13 For example, one specific opportunity
could be to ensure that the implementation of the GBF issynergistic with the Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond
National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) treaty which is currently being
negotiated and called for by the LPN, IUCN WCC 2020
Resolution 116, the G7 and the G20.

13. There have been a number of detailed discussions on this topic, forexample the UNEP-WCMC Strengthening Synergies report and the IPCCIPBES workshop. These include concrete suggestions for cooperation
which should be adopted as part of the COP15 decision.

© Yoon S. Byun / WWF-US

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS FOR CBD
PARTIES TO ADDRESS THE GAP
The science has never been clearer, we are in a state of planetary emergency:
the interdependent crises of biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradationand climate change – driven in large part by unsustainable production
and consumption – require urgent and immediate global action.
The political will to tackle the biodiversity loss crisis
together with other global challenges such as climatechange and recovery from COVID pandemic has neverbeen higher. However, the current global geopolitical
dynamics combined with a world hit by a pandemic
create a challenging context to land elevated politicalcommitments into CBD COP decisions and GBF.
This can be done. The inclusion of the 30% target for
spatial conservation in the first draft demonstrates thatpolitical will can be translated in specific targets and
GBF text. With the inclusion of free, prior, and informed
consent from IPLCs, achieving this target will be crucial
in halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030.

BRIDGING THE GAP: TRANSLATING POLITICAL COMMITMENTS INTO AN AMBITIOUS GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY FRAMEWORK

16

The analysis in this report has highlighted multiple
collective pledges, commitments, declarations, andresolutions which already have higher ambition than
the first draft. The signatories, and CBD parties, of the
documents assessed represent a majority of the world’s
countries and these countries all have at least one area inwhich they should be leading efforts to secure enhanced
commitments in the GBF. It is fundamental that the GBF
represents at least the current highest-ambition goals, if
not going beyond those, to ensure that we do not suffer
catastrophic and irredeemable damage to our naturalenvironment, our economies, and thus to all life on earth.

17

The following recommendations propose a path towards
bridging the gap between the first draft and current
strongest targets and commitments made elsewhere
highlighted in the Analysis section:1.

human induced extinction of species from 2022 andincreasing species abundance from 2030; includes
a 2030 Milestone (or outcome) to halve the footprintof production and consumption by 2030; contains
explicit mention of equitable and rights-based naturebased solutions to complement ecosystems based
approaches; commits to ending or repurposing all
harmful incentives and investments; includes a strong
planning, monitoring, reporting and review mechanism,
including a ratchet mechanism; forges a closer
convergence between the Rio conventions; ensures arights-based approach, including gender equality, atthe core of implementation and secures language ina final COP15 decision that provides Member States
guidance and option(s) to facilitate the continuity of the2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, aligned withthe adopted GBF and in line with prior commitmentsof member states in the 2019 SDG political declarationand the 2021 HLPF ministerial declaration.

The 120 endorser countries of the LPN, HAC for
N&P and GOA14 should work together to raise
ambition in the GBF and help find bridging
solutions in the CBD negotiations
The three coalitions should increase strategic
coordination and alignment15 before and during key
moments highlighted in figure 2 below, building on thegrowing collaboration and intent as shown by the sevenpriorities in the CBD PreCOP Joint Coalition Statement
and the High Level Event on Transformative Action for
Nature & People. Specifically, the three coalitions of theLPN, the HAC for N&P and the GOA should urgently:a.

b.

As per Analysis section 2.ii, form and articulatea united view on what the core components ofa strong implementation mechanism are andwork together to ensure that these components
related to planning, monitoring, reporting,and review are included in the GBF
Coordinate and raise voices in negotiations to ensurethat the GBF achieves the following: increases theoverall ambition to be “to halt and reverse biodiversity
loss by 2030” and “secure a nature positive world suchthat there is more nature in the world in 2030 thanthere was in 2020”; commits signatories to halting

2.

Figure 2: Key moments 2022
SBSTTA/SBI& OEWG 3.2

13-29 March, Switzerland

Q1 2022

9-21 May, Cote d’Ivoire

28 February – 2 March,
Kenya

CBD COP15
PART 2
TBC, China

75th WORLDHEALTH ASSEMBLY
22-28 May, Switzerland

3.

All countries, including G7 and G20 countries,
which have endorsed one or more of the collective
commitments, declaration, resolution, statement
assessed herein should:a.

Ensure that the high-level objective to “reverse
biodiversity loss by 2030” such that there is more natureby 2030 than in 2020 is reflected in the final text of theGBFb.

2-3 June, Sweden

HL EVENT
ON NATURE
20 July, Italy

DAVOS(Q3/4 TBC),
Switzerland

Q3

1 of the GBF) are communicated and translated into
actions across the whole of government between
ministries and Multilateral Environmental Agreement
negotiation teams.16 This must include LPN endorsers
mandating ministers in charge and/or relevant bodies
to translate all of the commitments of the LPN, including
but not limited to commitment 2, into actions andkey decisions. This will require mandating CBD leadnegotiators and teams to reflect the commitmentsof the LPN in the final text of the GBF and support its
immediate implementation. Additionally, this includes
providing appropriate resources nationally and – fordeveloped countries- ensuring the highest level of
ODA is committed to support GBF implementation indeveloping countries.

As the most ambitious of the commitments fornature made to date at the level of heads of state andgovernment, and now representing some 38% of world
GDP – LPN endorsers have a special responsibility tostand up for its commitments by ensuring it is clearlyreflected in the Global Biodiversity Framework. The
one specific recommendation of action for Leaders’Pledge endorsers to take is to ensure the LPN
commitments (and the gaps between LPN and draft

STOCKHOLM+50

Q2

UNEA 5.2/
UNEP @50

The 94 endorsers of the LPN should ensure thetranslation of the LPN commitments into the CBD
negotiations:

14. Figure accurate as of 15 November 2021
15. Coordination can range from joint statements to creating specific task
forces to strategize on the best approach and facilitate spaces to findbridging solutions on contentious issues in line with planetary emergency.

UN CCD COP 15

Support the inclusion of references to equitable andrights-based nature-based solutions with adequate
social and environmental safeguards and co-benefits forclimate, nature, people, and economies to complement
ecosystems based approaches.

16. One interviewee, familiar with negotiations in the FAO, commented thatthey had never heard of the LPN and were confident that none of theministers for Agriculture or negotiation teams were even aware of it.

2nd UN OCEANCONFERENCE

27 June – 1 July, Portugal

UNGA 77

13-27 September,
USAc.

Plan for immediate implementation of the GBF upon
adoption, particularly through mobilizing resources,
including building on the COP26 financial commitments
supporting nature-based solutions and other key
financial commitments made in recent forums. This
will also support negotiations by providing a clear
signal of commitment to delivery and by conveying theurgent requirement for action. G20 leaders and major
economies will need to mobilise significant financial
resources for nature and build on the commitments in
the G20 Rome Leaders’ Declaration to put the current
nature-negative recovery and resilience packages tobe in line with a green and just recovery, and improvefinancial flows and risk disclosure in relation to nature.

d.

Ensure the final COP15 decision has specific language
to ensure the continuity of the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development in line with the GBF adopted
and in line with prior commitments of member states in
the 2019 SDG political declaration and the 2021 HLPF
ministerial declaration .

e.

Realise the ambitions set out in IUCN WCC 2020
resolutions 081 & 116

Countries still have the opportunity to address the gaps
highlighted above, but time is running out. By stepping
up coordination and raising their voices at key moments
between now and COP15.2 and at the upcoming OEWG 3.2,
SBSTTA 24.2 and SBI3.2 meetings, CBD parties can ensurethat the GBF is indeed ambitious and transformationalenough to reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and prepare for
its full and immediate implementation.

© naturepl.com / Nayan Khanolkar / WWF

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18

19

ANNEX 1

REFERENCES
1.

First Draft of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity
Framework, CBD/WG2020/3/3 (5 July 2021)

2.

IPBES (2020) Workshop Report on Biodiversity andPandemics of the Intergovernmental Platform on
Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Daszak, P. et
al. IPBES secretariat, Bonn, Germany, DOI:10.5281/
zenodo.4147317

3.

Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, UNGA, A/RES/70/1 (October
2015)

4.

CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity) (2011)
Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, Including Aichi
Biodiversity Targets

5.

Leaders’ Pledge for Nature: United to Reverse
Biodiversity Loss by 2030 for Sustainable Development(18 September 2020)

6.

PreCOP Statement of the Coalitions (30 August 2021)

7.

Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use(2 November 2021)

Endorser and Signatories of political commitments
Please find below a log of the endorsers and signatories ofeach agreement analysed – and the GDP and population theycollectively represent – below:

17. Comprehensive and participatory process for the
preparation of the post-2020 global biodiversity
framework, CBD/COP/DEC/14/34 (30 November 2018)
18. Kunming Declaration (13 October 2021)
19. G20 Rome Leaders’ Declaration (31 October 2020)
20. Natural plant fibres and sustainable development,
UNGA, A/RES/74/240 (27 January 2020)
21. Ministerial declaration of the high-level segment of
the 2021 session of the Economic and Social Council
and the 2021 high-level political forum on sustainable
development, convened under the auspices of theCouncil, on the theme “Sustainable and resilient
recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that promotes
the economic, social and environmental dimensionsof sustainable development: building an inclusive andeffective path for the achievement of the 2030 Agenda
in the context of the decade of action and delivery forsustainable development”, UN Economic and Social
Council, E/HLS/2021/1 (16 August 2021)

8.

G7 2030 Nature Compact (June 2021)

22. Glasgow Climate Pact, FCCC/PA/CMA/2021/L.16(13 November 2021)

9.

Concept Note High Ambition Coalition for Nature &People (2019)23. Biodiversity and climate change, CBD/SBSTTA/REC/23/2(28 November 2019)

10. Global Ocean Alliance: 30by30 initiative
11. Resolution recognising the Human Right to a Healthy
Environment, Human Rights Council A/HRC/48/L.23/
Rev.1 (11 October 2021)

24. A Comprehensive Overview of Global Biodiversity
Finance, OECD (April 2020)
25. Business for Nature’s Call to Action, Business for Nature(21 September 2020)

12. IUCN WCC 2020 Resolution 116 – Develop andimplement a transformational and effective post-2020
global biodiversity framework, (1 October 2021)

26. Financial Institution Statement Ahead of the CBD
COP15, Finance for Biodiversity Foundation/Ceres(September 2021)

13. IUCN WCC 2020 Resolution 125 – Setting area-based
conservation targets based on evidence of what natureand people need to thrive, (22 September 2021)

27. United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples, UNGA, A/RES/61/295 (13 September 2007)

14. WWF Response to the first draft of the post-2020 Global
Biodiversity Framework, (20 July 2021)
15. IPBES – IPCC (2021) Workshop Report on Biodiversity
and Climate Change. Pörtner, H.O. et al.
16. IPBES (2019): Global assessment report on biodiversity
and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental
Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem
Services. E. S. Brondizio et al. IPBES secretariat, Bonn,
Germany. 1148 pages.

Commitments & documents analysed

Number of government signatories/
endorsers

Signatories/ Endorsers
represent thefollowing % of
global GDP

Signatories/ Endorsers
represent thefollowing % of
global population

Kunming Declaration

196 member states / all CBD parties

77%

95%

Leaders’ Pledge for Nature (LPN)**

93 member states and the European Union

38%

28%

High Ambition Coalition for Nature & People(HAC for N&P)

76 member states and the European Union

43%

45%

Global Ocean Alliance (GOA)

69 member states

25%

15%

CBD PreCOP joint coalition statement

115 member states and the European Union

39%

31%

G7 2030 Nature Compact **7 member States and the European Union

46%

10%

G20 Rome Leaders’ Declaration **19 member States and the European Union

79%

61%

IUCN WCC 2020 Resolution 116

Approved with 98% of support from thecategory of state and governmental agencies

N/A*

N/A*

Glasgow Declaration on Forests and Land Use

140 member states and the European Union

91%

71%

* Individual IUCN members vote details are not publically available** These documents were endorsed/signed at the level of Heads of State and Government

28. The Paris Agreement, UNFCCC, FCCC/CP/2015/10/Add.1(29 January 2016)29. De Lamo, X. et al. (2020) Strengthening synergies:
how action to achieve post-2020 global biodiversity
conservation targets can contribute to mitigating climatechange. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge, UK
30. Political declaration of the high-level political forum onsustainable development convened under the auspicesof the General Assembly, A/RES/74/4 (21 October 2019)

BRIDGING THE GAP: TRANSLATING POLITICAL COMMITMENTS INTO AN AMBITIOUS GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY FRAMEWORK

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21ANNEX 2: NAVIGATOR

2. Secure a milestone/outcome to halt human induced extinction of species from 2022 (i.e. immediately)
and increase species abundance by 2030

Language from these existing political commitments should inspire more
ambitious language in the Global Biodiversity Framework. CBD parties canbuild on language from existing joint political commitments.
WWF has made specific language recommendations foreach of the sections of the First Draft for consideration as
solutions to address the gap identified in the report.

country commitments other than the first draft may be
included. This may go beyond the specific wording of othermulti-country commitments.

Please note: the “relevant sections” from the First Draft
include all areas in which language identified in multi-

1. Increasing the overall objective to “halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030” to secure a nature positive world suchthat there is more nature in the world in 2030 than there was in 2020
Highest Ambition Text for LeadersDocument and Location
Within Text

Relevant
Section(s)from First
Draft

United to Reverse Biodiversity Loss by 2030

The Leaders’ Pledge for Nature– headline goal

Title, D5, E10

Additional efforts are urgently needed from all Parties to ensure that the goals, targets and meansof implementation of the Framework reach the necessary ambition to halt and reverse biodiversity
loss by 2030

PreCOP Joint Statement of the
Coalitions – Opening statement

Achieve ambitious targets on ecosystems and species conservation and restoration, including tobend the curve of biodiversity loss by 2030

PreCOP Joint Statement of the
Coalitions – Commitment 1

To reverse the severe trend of biodiversity loss and revive ecosystems that are critical to species
and humanity’s survival

The High Ambition Coalition for
Nature and People – Concept
Note, Introduction

We commit to… reverse the current loss of biodiversity and ensure that biodiversity is put on a path
to recovery by 2030 at the latest

Kunming Declaration –Commitment 1

NOTING the call from IUCN Members for an equitable, nature-positive and net zero world to ensure
there is more nature globally in 2030 than there was in 2020, by halting and reversing the loss ofnature to put nature on a path to recovery for the benefit of all people and the planet by 2030

IUCN Resolution 116 –Introduction

aiming to halt and reverse biodiversity loss to achieve a nature-positive world by 2030;

IUCN Resolution 116 – 2.c.

We, the G7 Leaders, commit to the global mission to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. We
will act now, building on the G7 Metz Charter on Biodiversity and the Leaders’ Pledge for Nature,championing their delivery, to help set the necessary trajectory for nature to 2030

G7 2030 Nature Compact –Point A

We commit to strengthen actions to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030

G20 Rome Leaders' Declaration– Point 16

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests,
combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

Sustainable Development Goals– Goal 15

BRIDGING THE GAP: TRANSLATING POLITICAL COMMITMENTS INTO AN AMBITIOUS GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY FRAMEWORKHighest Ambition Text for LeadersDocument and Location
Within Text

Relevant
Section(s)from First
Draft

By 2020 the extinction of known threatened species has been prevented and their conservation
status, particularly of those most in decline, has been improved and sustained.

Aichi Targets – Target 12

Goal A,
Milestone A.2,
Target 4

Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of
biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species

Sustainable Development Goals– Goal 15

Commitments to address the direct and indirect drivers of biodiversity loss and halt humaninduced extinction of species, to ensure species populations recover

The Leaders’ Pledge for Nature– Commitment 2, subsection b

zero human-induced extinctions of species, and recovery of the population abundance of species

IUCN Resolution 116 – 2.f.i.

Working together to agree and meet targets to increase the abundance of species populations
worldwide, significantly reduce overall species extinction risk and eventually stop human-induced
extinctions

G7 2030 Nature Compact – 3C

3. Including a Milestone (or outcome) to halve the footprint of production and consumption by 2030, particularly given
the current planetary emergency is in large part due to unsustainable and inequitable consumption and production

22

Highest Ambition Text for LeadersDocument and Location
Within Text

Relevant
Section(s)from First
Draft

We commit to transition to sustainable patterns of production and consumption and sustainable
food systems that meet people’s needs while remaining within planetary boundaries

The Leaders’ Pledge for Nature– Commitment 4

D6, Goal B,
Target 15,
Target 16

Transform the current unsustainable patterns of consumption and production into sustainable
ones to meet people’s need while remaining well within the limits of planetary boundaries;

PreCOP Joint Statement of the
Coalitions – Goal 2

develop, adopt and implement a post-2020 global biodiversity framework that… includes thefollowing critical elements in the 2030 Milestones… halving of the footprint of production andconsumption

IUCN Resolution 116 – 2.f.ii

23

4. Secure references to nature-based solutions in the text, to complement current mentions of ecosystems based
approaches, ensuring that they are deployed equitably and with a focus on Indigenous Peoples’ and Local
Communities’ rights

5. Committing to reform financial systems, including through ending or repurposing all harmful incentives and aligning
public and private financial flows to be nature positive

Highest Ambition Text for LeadersDocument and Location
Within Text

Relevant
Section(s)from First
Draft

Highest Ambition Text for LeadersDocument and Location
Within Text

Relevant
Section(s)from First
Draft

a significant scale-up in nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based approaches on land and atsea

The Leaders’ Pledge for Nature– Commitment 4, subsection aTarget 8,
Target 19

The Leaders’ Pledge for Nature– Commitment 9, subsection a

Enhancing the mobilization of resources from all sources… to significantly scale up support forbiodiversity, including through nature-based solutions, which contribute effectively not only to theachievement of biodiversity and climate goals, but to sustainable development, livelihoods andpoverty alleviation where needed

The Leaders’ Pledge for Nature– Commitment 9, subsection b

Incentivizing the financial system, nationally and internationally, including banks, funds,
corporations, investors and financial mechanisms, to align financial flows to environmental
commitments and the Sustainable Development Goals, to take into account the value of natureand biodiversity, promote biodiversity conservation, restoration and its sustainable use in theirinvestment and financing decisions, and in their risk management, as well as including throughencouraging the use of taxonomies

Goal D,
Milestone D.1,
Target 14,
Target 18

We will scale up and encourage the implementation of Nature-based Solutions or Ecosystem-based
Approaches as valuable tools providing economic, social, climate and environmental benefits
including in and around cities, in an inclusive manner and through the participation of local
communities and Indigenous Peoples

G20 Rome Leaders' Declaration– Point 17

Eliminating or repurposing subsidies and other incentives that are harmful to nature, biodiversity
and climate while increasing significantly the incentives with positive or neutral impact forbiodiversity across all productive sectors

The Leaders’ Pledge for Nature– Commitment 9, subsection c

Eliminating harmful incentives while creating positive ones; and – Aligning financial flows to a nature
positive economy, bringing business and the private sector, including the financial sector, on board

PreCOP Joint Statement of the
Coalitions – Goal 5

Increase the application of ecosystem-based approaches to address biodiversity loss, restore
degraded ecosystems, boost resilience, mitigate and adapt to climate change, support sustainable
food production, promote health, and contribute to addressing other challenges, enhancing
One Health and other holistic approaches and ensuring benefits across economic, social,and environmental dimensions of sustainable development, through robust safeguards forenvironmental and social protection, highlighting that such ecosystem-based approaches do not
replace the priority actions needed to urgently reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a way that is
consistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement

Kunming Declaration –Commitment 10

Acknowledging the harmful effect of some subsidies on the environment and the need to reform
policies with recognised negative impacts on nature: we commit to lead by example by reviewing
relevant domestic policies as soon as possible, according to national circumstances, and will takeaction as appropriate to develop replacements that are nature positive.

G7 2030 Nature Compact – 1C

Working to ensure that our international development assistance does no harm to nature, anddelivers positive outcomes overall for people, climate and nature

G7 2030 Nature Compact – 2C

Encouraging all Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), International Finance Institutions andDevelopment Finance Institutions (DFIs) to embed nature into their analysis, policy dialogue andoperations: we call on MDBs and DFIs to increase and mobilise finance for nature

G7 2030 Nature Compact – 2D

Working with finance, industry and business leaders… to drive a nature-positive shift by fully
investing in natural capital and embedding consideration of nature-related risk. We lookforward to the establishment of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures and its
recommendations.

G7 2030 Nature Compact – 2E

Work with ministries of finance and economy, and other relevant ministries, to reform incentive
structures, eliminating, phasing out or reforming subsidies and other incentives that are harmful
to biodiversity, while protecting people in vulnerable situations, to mobilize additional financial
resources, and align all financial flows in support of the conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity

Kunming Declaration –Commitment 13…the repurposing of all incentives harmful to biodiversity and alignment of financial flows – towards
a pathway to halt and reverse biodiversity loss

IUCN Resolution 116 – 2.q

Urges all governments to… take necessary actions to eliminate, redirect, repurpose, or reform
subsidies and other incentives identified as potentially harmful to the environment by 2030, as wellas those linked to human rights violations, and especially to biodiversity and climate

IUCN Resolution 116 – 3.dFootnote: Ecosystem-based approaches may also be referred to as “Nature based solutions” as per
SBSTTA
Working intensively towards increasing finance for nature from all sources throughout the next five
years: in particular, we commit to increase our finance contributions for nature-based solutions
through to 2025. Recognising the multiple benefits investing in nature brings we will maximise thesynergies of climate and biodiversity finance and promote funding that has co-benefits for climate
and nature

G7 2030 Nature Compact – 2B

nature-based solutions can contribute, among other strategies, to climate change mitigation andreversing biodiversity loss

UNGA – A/RES/74/240

the importance of investing in nature-based solutions or ecosystem-based approaches andmobilizing and significantly increasing financial resources from all sources to conserve andsustainably use biodiversity and ecosystems

UN Economic and Social
Council – E/HLS/2021/1

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6. Including explicit recognition of the rights of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) and the importanceof attaining their free, prior and informed consent for spatial conservation decisions and actions in the spatialconservation target (Target 3)

7. Ensuring a rights-based approach, including gender equality, at the core of the GBF and its implementation

Highest Ambition Text for LeadersDocument and Location
Within Text

Relevant
Section(s)from First
Draft

Highest Ambition Text for LeadersDocument and Location
Within Text

Relevant
Section(s)from First
Draft

the HAC is championing the protection of at least 30 percent of the world’s land and ocean by 2030,
in line with scientific advice. This increased target should promote indigenous-led conservation,prioritize intact ecosystems, and focus on areas most important for biodiversity and climate.

The High Ambition Coalition for
Nature and People – Concept
Note, Introduction

Target 3

Commitment to the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities
in decision making and recognition of their rights, as acknowledged in relevant national andinternational instruments;

The Leaders’ Pledge for Nature– Commitment 2, subsection c

Supporting new global targets to conserve or protect at least 30% of global land and at least 30%of the global ocean by 2030 as a critical foundation for the conservation and restoration efforts
required this decade: we will advocate for improved quality, effectiveness and connectivity ofprotected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs), and recognise
Indigenous Peoples as well as local communities as full partners in the implementation of thesetargets

G7 2030 Nature Compact – 3A

We… will engage the whole of society, including business and financial sectors, indigenous peoples
and local communities, environmental human rights defenders, local governments and authorities,
faith based groups, women, youth, civil society groups, academia, and other stakeholders

The Leaders’ Pledge for Nature– Commitment 10

Foster sustainable partnerships to ensure a whole-of-society approach with the inclusion ofindigenous peoples and local communities, women and girls, youth and marginalized communities

PreCOP Joint Statement of the
Coalitions – Goal 7

B2, B3, D5,
D6, Goal B,
Milestone B.2,
Milestone
C.2, Target
3, Target 8,
Target 9,
Target 19,
Target 21, J
18(b)We commit to… improve the effectiveness, and increase the coverage, globally, of area-based
conservation and management through enhancing and establishing effective systems of protectedareas and adopting other effective area-based conservation measures, as well as spatial planning
tools, to protect species and genetic diversity and reduce or eliminate threats to biodiversity,
recognizing the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities and ensuring their full andeffective participation

Kunming Declaration –Commitment 5

we commit to working collaboratively with partners and stakeholders to drive global system changethat works for all, prioritising the inclusion of Indigenous Peoples as well as local communities inco-design, decision-making and implementation, and recognising the interests of vulnerable andmarginalised groups including people living in poverty, women and girls, people with disabilities,
and youth

G7 2030 Nature Compact –Point Dat least 30% of terrestrial areas and inland waters (Note: ‘inland waters’ – as defined by theConvention on Biological Diversity and Ramsar Convention) and of coastal and marine areas,
respectively, are effectively and equitably governed, protected and conserved with a focus on sitesof particular importance for biodiversity, in well-connected systems of protected areas and othereffective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) by 2030, with the free, prior and informed
consent of indigenous peoples, and with appropriate recognition of the rights of indigenous
peoples to their lands, territories and resources, as set out under UNDRIP, and support for thefull and effective participation of local communities in the protection and conservation activities,
with the recognition of customary and local governance practices as appropriate, along with theirdiverse knowledge system

IUCN Resolution 116 – 2.o.i

Enable the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities, women,
youth, civil society, local governments and authorities, academia, the business and financial sectors,
and other relevant stakeholders

Kunming Declaration –Commitment 15

Calls on all components of IUCN to support the full and effective participation of indigenous
peoples and work towards the implementation of all protection, conservation and restoration
activities with the free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples, and with appropriate
recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples to their lands, territories and resources, as set
out under the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and fullrespect for their diverse knowledge systems;

IUCN Resolution 116 – 2.nIncludes global targets to ensure that… all of the land and waters, traditionally governed andconserved by IPLCs, are appropriately recognised and collectively secured

IUCN Resolution 116 – 2.0.iii

ensures the full and effective participation and recognition of the role of all relevant stakeholders
and rights-holders, including civil society and IPLCs, as an essential prerequisite to facilitate thesuccessful implementation of the framework

IUCN Resolution 116 – 2.rRecognizes the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment as a human right that is
important for the enjoyment of human rights

Human Rights Council –A/HRC/48/L.23/Rev.1

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8. Including a strong planning, monitoring, reporting and review mechanism, essential to avoid repeating the failure
to deliver on the Aichi targets and allow a ratcheting up of action over time

9. Forging a closer alignment with other multilateral environmental agreements and the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development

Highest Ambition Text for LeadersDocument and Location
Within Text

Relevant
Section(s)from First
Draft

Highest Ambition Text for LeadersDocument and Location
Within Text

Relevant
Section(s)from First
Draft

Commitments backed up by a strong monitoring and review mechanism, and means of
implementation commensurate with the challenge of halting and reversing the decline inbiodiversity;

The Leaders’ Pledge for Nature– Commitment 2, subsection d

D6, J18, J19

Commitments to strengthen the cooperation among relevant multilateral environmental
agreements, international organizations and programmes to contribute to effective and efficient
implementation of the biodiversity framework

The Leaders’ Pledge for Nature– Commitment 2, subsection e

Develop a strong monitoring and review mechanism to back up commitments;

PreCOP Joint Statement of the
Coalitions – Goal 6

We will continue to do this by taking an integrated and holistic approach to address the direct andindirect drivers of biodiversity loss, which implies, among others, acting in an articulated manner
across all sectors and taking action on interdependent crises, such as climate change

PreCOP Joint Statement of the
Coalitions – Opening statement

the HAC for Nature & People supports several related goals, including… clear implementation
mechanisms to put nature on a path to recovery by 2030

The High Ambition Coalition for
Nature and People – Concept
Note, Additional Goals of the
HAC for Nature & People,
Goal 3

Goals of the HAC for Nature and People… Promoting nature-based solutions within the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change COPs

The High Ambition Coalition for
Nature and People – Concept
Note, Goals of the HAC for
Nature & People, Goal 2

B2, B3, D5,
D6, Goal B,
Milestone B.2,
Milestone
C.2, Target
3, Target 8,
Target 9,
Target 19,
Target 21, J
18(b)Goals of the HAC for Nature and People… Other common grounds on the post-2020 global
biodiversity framework that will be adopted at COP15, in particular the implementation framework

The High Ambition Coalition for
Nature and People – Concept
Note, Goals of the HAC for
Nature & People, Goal 3

Climate change is one key driver of biodiversity loss, and protecting, conserving and restoring
biodiversity is crucial to addressing climate change. Ahead of COP15 and COP26, as we embark
upon this pivotal decade, we commit to tackle these interdependent and mutually reinforcing crises
in an integrated manner, thereby contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development
Goals and a green, inclusive and resilient recovery from COVID-19.

G7 2030 Nature Compact –Point B

Driving strengthened accountability and implementation mechanisms of all Multilateral
Environmental Agreements to which we are parties: in particular, those G7 members Party to
the CBD will champion, as part of an ambitious post-2020 global biodiversity framework: (i) the
production of ambitious and strengthened national plans from all Parties; (ii) more transparent
metrics and success indicators; and (iii) more robust monitoring and reporting

G7 2030 Nature Compact – 4C
We commit to take strong and integrated global action on nature and climate, working alongsidepolitical leaders and other actors to drive ambitious outcomes for nature in 2021 at the CBD
COP15, UNFCCC COP26 and the UN Ocean Conference, as well as at the UN Environment Assembly
and the UN Convention on Combating Desertification in 2022.

G7 2030 Nature Compact–
Conclusion

sets up a strong implementation mechanism that promotes responsibility and transparency
that includes national planning, reporting, periodic review, and where consistent with national
legislation, ratchet and compliance, as well as a global stocktake to assess collective progress
toward meeting the goals, milestones, and targets of the framework

IUCN Resolution 116 – 2.l

We underline the many synergies in financial flows for climate, biodiversity and ecosystems, and wewill strengthen those synergies to maximize co-benefits

G20 Rome Leaders’ Declaration– Point 16

is complemented by a robust and comprehensive monitoring framework that ensures thatkey dimensions of biodiversity, including trends of species populations at global level, and key
commitments and actions necessary to reverse biodiversity loss are adequately monitored

IUCN Resolution 116 – 2.S

Further enhance collaboration and coordinate actions with ongoing multilateral environmental
agreements, such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the United
Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, and the biodiversity-related conventions, as wellas the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other related international and multilateralprocesses, to promote the protection, conservation, sustainable management and restoration ofterrestrial, freshwater and marine biodiversity, while contributing to other sustainable development
goals, aligned to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

Kunming Declaration –Commitment 17

develop, adopt and implement a post-2020 global biodiversity framework that… forms a guiding
framework that integrates and achieves the objectives of the CBD, as well as the other Rio
Conventions and biodiversity-related conventions and processes, and the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development

IUCN Resolution 116 – 2.kUrges all governments to… pursue efforts to limit global warming to 1.5ºC for biodiversity andpeople, including by, inter alia, rapidly and significantly scaling up the implementation of NbS thatmaintain and support biodiversity while contributing to mitigation and adaptation to climate change

IUCN Resolution 116 – 3.f© 2022
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BRIDGING THE GAP: TRANSLATING POLITICAL COMMITMENTS INTO AN AMBITIOUS GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY FRAMEWORK

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