UN Social Media Team / Aarao Benchimol & Santiago Gonzalez
United Nations Day --24 October 2023
United Nations Day, on 24 October, marks the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter. With the ratification of this founding document by the majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, the United Nations officially came into being.
There is no other global organization with the legitimacy, convening power and normative impact of the United Nations. No other global organization gives hope to so many people for a better world and can deliver the future we want. Today, the urgency for all countries to come together, to fulfil the promise of the nations united, has rarely been greater.
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted by Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, aims to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity and put nature on a path to recovery by 2030, for the benefit of people and the planet. Implementation of the Framework will contribute to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The Framework is underpinned by a human rights approach and it acknowledges the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. It also acknowledges the important roles and contributions of indigenous peoples and local communities as partners in conservation, restoration, and sustainable use, and has a gender-responsive approach, supported by a dedicated Gender Plan of Action. It calls for access to justice and information related to biodiversity and aims to ensure the full protection of environmental human rights defenders.
The Framework includes 23 action-oriented targets for 2030. Alongside decisive action to combat climate change in line with the Paris Agreement, achieving the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is essential to maintain a liveable planet.
UN Day offers the opportunity to amplify our common agenda and reaffirm the purposes and principles of the UN Charter that have guided us for the past 78 years. The actions in the Framework contribute to and supported the ongoing fight for equality, freedom and justice for all.
About the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity was established to support the goals of the Convention. Its principal functions are to prepare for, and service, meetings of the Conferences of the Parties (COP) and other subsidiary bodies of the Convention, and to coordinate with relevant international bodies.
As a neutral organization staffed by international civil servants, the Secretariat is accountable to the COP and its subsidiary bodies and carries out those tasks that fall under its associated mandate.
The Secretariat is institutionally linked to UN Environment, its host institution and is located in Montreal, Canada since 1996. It currently employs some 110 staff, including short-term staff and consultants. Civil servants of the Secretariat come from around the world. Its head, the Executive Secretary, is appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in consultation with the COP through its Bureau.
The Secretariat:
- assists and provides administrative support to the COP, the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice and other Convention bodies;
- represents the day-to-day focal point for the Convention;
- organizes all meetings under the Convention;
- prepares background documentation for meetings;
- facilitates the flow of authoritative information on the implementation of the Convention;
- plays a significant role in coordinating the work carried out under the Convention;
- compiles national reports on compliance by domestic authorities; and
- acts as information clearing house.
In spite of the considerable advancements achieved by the Convention since its entry into force, the extent of the biodiversity challenge facing the international community requires urgent additional efforts as well as enhanced international cooperation and inter-agency collaboration on the scale necessary to translate the three objectives of the Convention into reality and achieve: the Aichi Biodiversity Targets; the Sustainable Development Goals; and the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
To achieve such a strategic objective, a new era of enhanced implementation is required. The Secretariat is fully committed, through the highest standards of professionalism and objectivity, in performing an enhanced role in facilitating and supporting implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity by Parties and stakeholders.
🌍 The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is our roadmap to end biodiversity loss by 2030, supporting #GlobalGoals.🌿
— UN Biodiversity (@UNBiodiversity) October 24, 2023
On this #UNDay, let's unite to create a fairer, freer, and just world. 🕊️ #Biodiversity #SustainableFuture #GBF #Sustainability #ForNature pic.twitter.com/S1vaJ21WZE
More information:
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
The Role of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
Ten ways the UN makes a difference
The work of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
Peace and Biodiversity Dialogue Initiative
The Peace and Biodiversity Dialogue Initiative (PBDI) promotes transboundary cooperation in protected areas globally. Through the PBDI, Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity can share knowledge and best practices in transboundary cooperation. They may also wish to strengthen existing cooperation mechanisms or develop new ones with the facilitation of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and many partners with expertise in this regard.
The work of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
Agricultural biodiversity is a broad term that includes all components of biological diversity of relevance to food and agriculture, and all components of biological diversity that constitute the agricultural ecosystems, also named agro-ecosystems: the variety and variability of animals, plants and micro-organisms, at the genetic, species and ecosystem levels, which are necessary to sustain key functions of the agro-ecosystem, its structure and processes.
The CBD programme of work on agricultural biodiversity is designed to address these challenges. It is structured to take into account the different dimensions of agricultural biodiversity and is based on four elements:
- assessing the status and trends of the world’s agricultural biodiversity, the underlying causes of change, and knowledge of management practices;
- identifying adaptive management techniques, practices and policies;
- building capacity, increasing awareness and promoting responsible action; and
- mainstreaming national plans and strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of agricultural biodiversity into relevant agriculture sectors.
The work of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
The linkages between biodiversity and human health presents a broad range of opportunities for jointly protecting health and biodiversity, and for advancing human well-being.
Over the last decade, the multiplicity and complexity of linkages between biodiversity and human health have been increasingly recognized. However, we can improve our understanding of the complex linkages between biodiversity, ecosystem services and human health and promote co-benefits through more integrated policies and implementation activities by strengthening collaboration with the health sector and mainstreaming biodiversity and health linkages into national strategies policies, programmes, accounts and reporting instruments.
Towards a biodiversity-inclusive One Health transition to achieve a vision of living in harmony with nature that also advances health and well-being
One health, among other holistic approaches such as Ecohealth or Planetary health, provides an opportunity to integrate the full range of biodiversity-health linkages. As highlighted in the 5th edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO-5), achieving a biodiversity-inclusive One Health transition that remains economically sustainable for populations in developing countries; fully supports human health, all living beings, ecosystems and relevant systemic drivers; and addresses the common drivers of biodiversity loss, habitats disruption, disease risk, and health impacts will enable a virtuous cycle. Coordinated, cross-sectoral approaches as One Health can help to address the common drivers of biodiversity loss, climate change, negative health outcomes and increased pandemics risk.
The work of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
Climate Change and Biodiversity
There is ample evidence that climate change affects biodiversity. Continued climate change is having predominantly adverse and often irreversible impacts on many ecosystems and their services, with significant negative social, cultural and economic consequences.
However, the links between biodiversity and climate change flow both ways. Conserving natural terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems and restoring degraded ecosystems (including their genetic and species diversity) is essential for the overall goals of both the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change because ecosystems play a key role in the global carbon cycle and in adapting to climate change, while also providing a wide range of ecosystem services that are essential for human well-being and the achievement of the goals in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation, which integrates the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services into an overall adaptation strategy, can be cost-effective and generate social, economic and cultural co-benefits and contribute to the conservation of biodiversity.
The work of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
Peace and Biodiversity Dialogue Initiative
There is ample evidence that climate change affects The Peace and Biodiversity Dialogue Initiative (PBDI) promotes transboundary cooperation in protected areas globally. Through the PBDI, Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity can share knowledge and best practices in transboundary cooperation. They may also wish to strengthen existing cooperation mechanisms or develop new ones with the facilitation of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and many partners with expertise in this regard.
The work of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
The programme of work on the biological diversity of inland waters is designed to address threats through a series of broad-based policies (programme elements) backed by specific actions.
The presence of inland waters in all other biomes requires coherence and cross-referencing to all other programmes of work. Inland waters are influenced by most land based activities and carry pollutants, excessive nutrients and silt and other impacts to the oceans through estuaries and coastal zones. Inland waters reflect problems in other terrestrial biomes and are often the main medium through which terrestrial biomes interact. The inland waters and the ecosystem approach are therefore intricately linked.
The CBD works largely with partners in the implementation of the programme of work.
The work of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: Target 22
Target 22. Ensure participation, justice, and rights for indigenous peoples and local communities, women, youth persons with disabilities and environmental defenders
Target 22 aims at ensuring the full, equitable, and inclusive representation and participation of indigenous peoples and local communities in decision-making processes related to biodiversity as well as to foster inclusive, participatory and rights-based approaches to biodiversity conservation. This target identifies several elements to accomplish this, including:
Full protection of environmental human rights defenders – This part of the target refers to measures that can be taken to safeguard individuals or groups who work to protect the environment, advocate for environmental justice, and defend the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities. Key aspects of protecting environmental human rights defenders could include but are not limited to: preventing violence and intimidation by providing legal protection, effective remedies and secure exercise of their rights free from reprisals and retaliation, and raising awareness about the important role of environmental human rights defenders.
The work of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
Economics, Trade and Incentive Measures
The Convention’s economic work aims to elicit the economic value of biodiversity through appropriate valuation tools and to "internalize" this value into market prices through the use of appropriate incentive measures - while bearing in mind that there are various types of values attached to biodiversity and a number of them cannot be captured by economic analyses.
Incentive measures usually take the form of a new policy, law, or economic or social programme. A single incentive measure functions within the broader set of incentives governing human behavior, and its effectiveness depends upon support from the existing social, economic and policy environment.
The work of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
Parliamentarians and Biodiversity
Biodiversity forms the web of life of which we are an integral part and upon which we fully depend. Biodiversity is vital for human societies, it directly provides products such as water, food, and material for industry. Nevertheless, it is an under-appreciated resource which is being lost at an unprecedented rate.
The overall challenge is to increase the visibility of biodiversity and to make people aware of the consequences of its loss. Biodiversity considerations need to be put at the forefront of policy debates. The integration of biodiversity concerns into national legislation is urgent and essential to the achievement of the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Parliamentarians are members of parliament or, in other words, representatives elected by the voters of an electoral district to a parliament. They are legislators and monitors of government policy at the national level, as well as the guardians of the public will and conscience as elected representatives of the population.
As the decision-makers of policies, governmental plans and budgets, the parliamentarians are the main players in deciding on legislation deriving from decisions from the Conference of the Parties to the Convention. By creating, amending and ratifying laws, they can therefore translate the consensus reached internationally under the Convention on Biological Diversity into tangible actions at the national and local levels.
Parliamentarians can also strengthen the mandate of CBD National Focal Points, in their efforts to promote the implementation of the COP decisions and activities.
The work of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
Gender equality is a real driver of development, significantly enhancing the effectiveness of programmes, projects and initiatives. The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity has developed a Gender Plan of Action, which defines the Secretariat’s role in stimulating and facilitating efforts, both in-house and with partners and Parties at the national, regional, and global levels, to overcome constraints and take advantage of opportunities to promote gender equality within its work.
Work on gender mainstreaming undertaken by the Secretariat includes the development of the CBD Technical Series No. 49 'Guidelines for Mainstreaming Gender into National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans'. Based on these efforts, at the tenth Conference of the Parties (COP 10), held in Nagoya in October 2010, Parties to the Convention adopted Decision X/19 calling for gender mainstreaming in all programmes of work under the Convention and urged Parties to take into account the guidance provided in Technical Series No. 49 when developing, revising and implementing their national and, where appropriate, regional, biodiversity strategies and action plans. The COP also requested the Executive Secretary to cooperate with other inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations on this and to formulate clear indicators to monitor progress.
The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization, adopted at COP 10, calls for the participation of women in decision- and policy-making surrounding access and benefit-sharing in its preamble. The text also contains several explicit references to the role of women, and in particular, indigenous women and local communities.
Finally, Article 26 of the Cartegena Protocol on Biosafety enables Parties to take socio-economic considerations into account in decision-making on living modified organism and their impacts. Such considerations can and should include considerations of gender equality.