EU-China Environment Project Advances Global Biodiversity Framework Implementation

A Training Workshop on Biodiversity Finance and Mainstreaming to Support GBF Implementation was held on May 21-23 in Wuzhishan, Hainan Province, on the occasion of International Biodiversity Day. Selected experts in biodiversity policy and finance shared their knowledge on mechanisms for biodiversity finance and mainstreaming, biodiversity-related financial risk management, innovative approaches to financing nature protection, and the enhancement of ESG in relation to biodiversity and corporate transparency. The EU ambassador to China addressed the opening of the training, highlighting that green is the colour of EU-China cooperation. Local environmental officials and EU member states representatives, among other stakeholders joined the event and discussed approaches to further mobilize the finance sector to support GBF implementation.

In mid-June, immediately following the HECD, the EU-China Environment Project facilitated an official visit to Belgium and France from June 19-26 for a delegation of Chinese environmental officials at central and local levels. The delegation was led by China’s lead negotiator for the CBD, Mr Liu Ning, and provided an opportunity for face-to-face meetings between China’s environmental officials and the EU Commission and EU member states, to exchange the latest experience on biodiversity legislation and policies, as well as to prepare for a successful COP16 in Colombia in October.

In early July, the leader of DG Environment’s International Biodiversity Team, Mr Anne-Theo Seinen, returned the favour and visited Beijing. During his visit, a workshop involving CBD negotiators, EU Member States and selected experts was held on GBF Implementation in Beijing. The workshop focussed on preparation for, and provided an opportunity for European and Chinese biodiversity negotiators to exchange ideas in-person and enhance mutual understandings on key topics, such as planning, monitoring, reporting, and review of national GBF implementation, the multi-year program of work, scientific gaps and needs for implementing the GBF, and an outlook to COP16.

The workshop was followed by a training workshop engaging key stakeholders from financial institutions, to raise awareness on the urgent need to leverage finance for nature protection. Opening remarks were made by Mr Liu and Mr Seinen, and emphasised that biodiversity is a high priority for government in both China and the EU, and that the finance sector can share experiences across geographies, in order to ensure that standards and best practice are well-aligned. Topics for the training included mainstreaming biodiversity in public finance in the EU and China, setting ambition and pathways for resource mobilisation, as well as ESG and the emerging bio-credit market. The workshop emphasized the urgent need to secure financial flows for biodiversity protection and capacity building for key stakeholders.

The EU-China Environment Project, funded by the EU Foreign Policy Instrument, supports cooperation between the EU and China on environmental policy, aiming to improve environmental protection standards and increase integration between the EU and China on environmental governance. Phase 1 of the project was implemented from January 2018 to June 2021, while Phase 2, running from July 2021 to December 2024, is currently ongoing. The project is implemented by a consortium including GOPA, the Policy Research Center for Environment and Economy (PRCEE) of China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and ClientEarth.