Media briefing

Global biodiversity targets risk failing unless countries put nature laws in place

15 October 2024  

As delegates will gather in Colombia next week for key global biodiversity talks, ClientEarth legal experts are warning that the talks' success depends on the effective implementation of nature laws across the world.

Next week’s Conference of the Parties (COP16) will mark the first time countries are meeting since the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) was agreed in 2022 – a landmark deal to halt and reverse the loss of nature by 2030 [1].

Every country agreed to revise its plan – called a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) – to bring it in line with new global framework.  Yet, fewer than 30 NBSAPs have been submitted as of October 2024. Besides, only a small fraction of these plans is enshrined in national legislation or is even fully aligned to the GBF.

COP16 is the opportunity for Parties to live up to their commitment to the GBF and demonstrate their ability to turn words into legally binding action to effectively protect biodiversity.

ClientEarth lawyer Ioannis Agapakis said: “Without functioning ecosystems, we will not survive on this planet – and that’s why countries signed the Global Biodiversity Framework. But the agreement so far doesn’t amount to much more than good intentions. We urgently need binding tools that embed nature at the heart of all national decision-making and sectoral laws. Simultaneously, we need countries to get serious about the effectiveness of their conservation and restoration measures, and deliver tangible, measurable outcomes that demonstrate real progress in safeguarding biodiversity.”

The speed of global biodiversity decline is alarming. There has been a 73%-decline in the average size of monitored wildlife populations over just 50 years (1970-2020). For example, more than 40% of insect species are declining and a third are endangered, which has huge knock-on effects on ecosystems as they act as food for other creatures, pollinators and recyclers of nutrients. Our resilience to natural disasters, climate adaptation and even food security are being compromised due to species' decline and the degradation of ecosystems.

Biodiversity decline and ecosystem degradation threaten the lives and livelihoods of the billions of people who depend directly or indirectly on nature. ClientEarth legal expects are calling for the GBF targets to be delivered through national legal frameworks that put healthy ecosystems at the central stage of climate adaptation, agricultural, trade and development agendas, fully respecting and promoting the rights of indigenous peoples, local communities and other, often marginalized, rightsholders.

On top of the adoption of key nature laws, ClientEarth lawyers want countries to focus on enforcement mechanisms [2]. Many areas across Europe which have already been designated as ‘protected’ under EU law suffer from poor management and the destructive impacts of human activities. This is the case in the Mediterranean Sea, where France allows destructive fishing practices like bottom trawling in so-called Marine Protected Areas – hence the recently-filed lawsuit against France.

Agapakis added: “Previous biodiversity targets have sadly not been met, so this time around we need to develop a practical approach to ensure that all parties are contributing their fair share. That means having strong accountability mechanisms in place so that each country has to report on progress on a regular basis.”

In the EU, ClientEarth lawyers have been working on the implementation of the landmark Nature Restoration Law, and have recently published guidance and recommendations for strong national restoration plans. The Nature Restoration Law will contribute to implementing several of the GBF targets.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

[1] The global plan agreed at COP15 in 2022 was the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. It includes four global goals and 23 targets to drive action over the next decade, with a mission of halting and reversing the loss of nature by 2030.

[2] Read more about ClientEarth’s policy asks in “Law in Action: Powering Global Peace with Nature”.

ClientEarth at COP16 

For media interviews on COP16 and related topics, ClientEarth spokespeople will be available – in Colombia, and online :

  • Ioannis Agapakis, lawyer, specialised in biodiversity governance.
  • Pierre Cannet, Global Head of Public Affairs and Policy.

Please contact Anaïs Rivalier for interview requests (arivalier@clientearth.org  or +44(0)7851926887).

ClientEarth will be present at the following events:

About ClientEarth

ClientEarth is a non-profit organisation that uses the law to create systemic change that protects the Earth for – and with – its inhabitants. We are tackling climate change, protecting nature and stopping pollution, with partners and citizens around the globe. We hold industry and governments to account, and defend everyone’s right to a healthy world. From our offices in Europe, Asia and the USA we shape, implement and enforce the law, to build a future for our planet in which people and nature can thrive together.