Coenraad Krijger (IUCN NL) on the importance of biodiversity and COP15
The UN summit on biodiversity (COP15) is underway. After years of delay, the world is now eagerly awaiting concrete commitments to reverse the declining state of nature. The biodiversity decline has major implications, including for the viability of businesses.
We asked our network of experts about the expectations and opportunities of this summit, because only in collaboration can we make progress. Today: Coenraad Krijger, director of the Dutch branch of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN NL). How does he view COP15 and what does it mean for ambitions within the business community?
Coenraad Krijger: ''Without Montreal there is no Paris'' is a regular expression within the climate discussion.”
COP15 has entered its second week. What are your expectations from this UN summit on nature?
'I expect state treaty partners to step up their efforts to adopt the 'Global Biodiversity Framework' (GBF) at COP15. The urgency for an ambitious biodiversity agreement is now clear: as many as one million species are threatened with extinction.'
Reports from Montreal are not particularly hopeful yet. There is talk of mistrust between rich and poor countries and that there is still no agreement on thousands of passages of the draft text.
‘It is not surprising that there isn’t an agreement yet, as the GBF is a holistic framework where all parts affect one another. That is why negotiators say, ''nothing is agreed upon until everything is agreed".'
'To reach agreement, cooperation and compromise are central to the final negotiations. A number of things are nevertheless encouraging. For instance, the GBF hooks into existing global multilateral environmental commitments that already have momentum, such as the UN's sustainable development goals and UN agency UNFCCC's Paris Agreement.''
'"Without Montreal there is no Paris" is an expression already widely heard in the climate debate. The term 'whole of society approach' also pops up a lot. This means not only governments, but also civil society organisations, companies and citizens should take action. This increases the support and clout of the framework.'
It is now four years since the last UN biodiversity summit. What is a new development at this COP15 in Montreal?
'What is new is the emphasis on the importance of measuring progress through a monitoring framework. This allows us to determine whether we need to raise the level of ambition and check whether countries are meeting their commitments, for example. The previous biodiversity targets - the so-called 'Aichi targets' to be met by 2020 - were not met. Through better monitoring, the hope is that this time it will succeed.'
'Without agreements on funding, it's mopping up the water with the tap still open.'
In first draft, the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) formulated four long-term targets for 2050 and over 20 sub-targets for 2030. At COP15, these targets will be negotiated. One of the targets is 'redirecting, repurposing, reforming or eliminating incentives'. What are your thoughts on this goal?
'Any financial transaction can lead to a negative or positive impact on biodiversity. To us, it is therefore important that the GBF includes an action target on financing for biodiversity.'
'The targets within the GBF can only be achieved if harmful incentives from governments and companies are transformed into incentives that are positive - or at least neutral - to biodiversity. Without agreements on this, it is mopping up the water with the tap still open.'
If this target is formally adopted, what will it mean for business?
'If this action target is adopted, businesses can expect government subsidies that cause damage to nature to be discontinued and/or transformed into subsidies that have a positive impact on nature. Think money for agricultural subsidies and guarantee schemes for export credits that will only be administered for nature-positive purposes.'
The Convention on Biological Diversity, as mentioned earlier, has formulated several objectives. From your knowledge and expertise, which objective do you think is important to highlight?
'As far as we are concerned, all 22 action targets and the four overarching goals are equally important. It is a transformative framework in which all elements are needed together to be able to stop biodiversity loss by 2030 and live in harmony with nature by 2050.'
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