What’s in Today’s Article?

• About the Convention (Key Goals, Decisions & Discussions, etc.)
• India’s Contribution to COP-16 (Key Contributions / Commitments, Significance, etc.)

Overview of the Convention:

• The 16th meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) took place in Cali, Colombia.
• Around 190 countries gathered to advance global biodiversity conservation efforts, continuing from the landmark agreements established at the previous conference in Montreal, Canada, in 2022.
• The primary goal was to push forward the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) and ensure the implementation of key biodiversity targets set for the decade leading up to 2030.

Key Goals of the KMGBF:

• The 2022 Montreal meeting resulted in the 30-by-30 agreement, a commitment to protect 30% of land and marine areas by 2030.
  • Currently, less than 17% of land and 10% of marine areas are protected globally.
• In addition to this overarching goal, the KMGBF identified 23 action-oriented global targets for biodiversity conservation, including:
  • Reducing Invasive Species: Halving the introduction of invasive alien species by 2030 and minimizing their impact.
  • Addressing Pollution: Aiming to bring pollution levels down to tolerable limits across all sources by 2030.
  • Benefit-Sharing Mechanism: Establishing a system to ensure fair benefit-sharing from the use of genetic resources and digital sequence information (DSI) derived from genetic materials.
  • Integrating Biodiversity into Development: Ensuring biodiversity considerations are embedded in national policies, regulatory frameworks, and development planning.
• However, implementing these targets requires substantial financial commitments.
• Estimates suggest that around $200 billion per year is needed, but only a fraction of this has been pledged by international stakeholders.

Decisions and Discussions at COP-16:

• While a final agreement on all issues was still pending, several important steps were taken:
• Inclusion of Indigenous Communities:
  • A subsidiary body was established to include indigenous groups in biodiversity discussions, recognizing their essential role in conservation efforts.
• Digital Sequence Information (DSI) Agreement:
  • One of the major topics was “benefit-sharing” related to the use of DSI.
  • This involves determining fair ways to share the benefits of products—such as medicines or drugs—that are developed using genetic material from various organisms.
  • While there was debate over who should contribute to this mechanism (countries or corporations), a multilateral solution was not fully agreed upon.
• Adopted Agreements:
  • Important texts were adopted on issues including the link between biodiversity and climate change, mainstreaming biodiversity, addressing invasive species, and technical support for KMGBF implementation.

India’s Contribution to COP-16:

• India, a consistent participant in biodiversity COPs, was represented by a delegation led by the Minister of State for Environment, Kirti Vardhan Singh.
• India presented an updated biodiversity action plan with several key highlights:
• Budget Commitment:
  • India plans to allocate approximately ₹81,664 crore for biodiversity and conservation efforts from 2025 to 2030.
  • From 2018 to 2022, the country spent ₹32,207 crore on conservation efforts, primarily through central government funding and allocations to various ministries and statutory bodies.
• Call for International Finance:
  • Emphasizing the need for global financial support, India’s officials stressed the necessity of international resources to meet ambitious biodiversity targets, as highlighted in Target 19 of the KMGBF, which aims to mobilize $200 billion annually, including $30 billion through international financing.
• Biodiversity Initiatives:
  • India cited its contributions to global conservation, including the establishment of the International Big Cat Alliance for the protection of major big cat species, which serve as indicators of healthy ecosystems.
  • Furthermore, India has expanded its Ramsar sites (wetlands of international importance) from 26 in 2014 to 85, with plans to increase the number to 100 soon.

Significance and Future Implications:

• The COP-16 conference highlights the global commitment to biodiversity conservation, with specific targets aimed at addressing issues like habitat loss, pollution, and climate change.
• The inclusion of indigenous communities and the establishment of benefit-sharing mechanisms for genetic resources represent progressive steps toward equitable and inclusive conservation efforts.
• However, the success of these initiatives heavily relies on adequate funding, which remains a challenge.
• India’s proactive involvement and substantial budget commitments underscore its dedication to biodiversity conservation, while also emphasizing the need for collaborative international support to meet the KMGBF goals by 2030.