COP15 enters the final sprint, China's active promotion of "framework" consultations is affirmed

Reference News Network reported on December 16

(article/Guo Shuang) "Facing the biggest species extinction crisis on Earth since the extinction of the dinosaurs", after nearly four years of marathon negotiations and multiple postponements, the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (referred to as the "Convention") fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP15) has entered the final sprint in Montreal, Canada.

　　Following the successful holding of the first phase of the meeting in Kunming, Yunnan, China in October 2021, the second phase of COP15 continues with the theme of "Ecological Civilization: Building a Community of Life on Earth", aiming to formulate and adopt the "Global Biodiversity Policy after 2020". Framework" (referred to as "Framework"), which is also the most important expected outcome of the second phase of the meeting.

The "Framework" will draw a blueprint for global biodiversity governance in the next 10 years or even longer, which is of great significance to global biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

Promote the expansion of consensus among all parties

　　At present, the process of this meeting has passed halfway.

Huang Runqiu, chairman of COP15 and Minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, said at a press conference held on the 13th that all parties have formulated a clear roadmap to promote the "framework".

As of the first process review on the 10th, the meeting has passed a number of important but less controversial issues, accounting for about one-third of all decisions made at the meeting.

From the 12th to the 14th, an upgraded draft version of the key issues of the "Framework" will be formed, leaving only those issues that require high-level political promotion and those that are interrelated with other issues.

　　As the presidency of this conference, China has been actively promoting the "Framework" consultation process.

According to Huang Runqiu, China has organized nearly 40 meetings of the COP15 Bureau, and together with the secretariat of the "Convention", hosted four "Framework" working group meetings in Geneva, Nairobi and other places. important effort.

　　Since the end of the first phase of COP15, China has used the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, the Joint Meeting of the Group of Twenty Environment and Climate Ministers, the High-Level Event Week of the 77th UN On occasions and opportunities such as the Biodiversity Day of the 17th Conference of the Parties, we organized COP15 important topic exchange meetings and high-level roundtables, etc., and communicated and coordinated with countries to promote the successful holding of the second phase of the meeting, which effectively boosted the political momentum of COP15 .

　　Huang Runqiu said that as the host country of COP15, China will strive to promote the expansion of consensus among the parties, meet each other halfway, and achieve both ambitious and practical conservation goals, serving the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, the long-term goals of 2030, and the 2050 A beautiful vision of harmonious coexistence between young people and nature.

　　"The Chinese government has spent a lot of time trying to promote the 'framework' consultations, and organized many activities, bilateral discussions with leaders of all parties, actively preparing for the formulation and adoption of the 'framework'." Elizabeth Murray, Executive Secretary of the Convention Secretariat Ma said in an interview with our reporter.

Funding issues become the focus of conflict

　　Although the structure and core content of the "Framework" have been determined thanks to the active coordination of China and the joint efforts of various parties, there are still many differences among the various parties on the specific content of the framework document.

　　First of all, due to the large differences in the economic and social development levels of the 196 parties, the main challenges and implementation capabilities of biodiversity governance are different, and key issues such as resource mobilization, access to and utilization of digital sequence information on genetic resources, and benefit sharing are still There is some controversy.

　　As Murema pointed out, there are 196 different positions for 196 parties, "These different positions require negotiation to reach an agreement, and not all parties can achieve the desired goal 100%, because each party has its own differences. Priorities... Everyone needs to play their part. The 'framework' will be a universal framework that works for everyone. We need everyone to come together and leave no one behind".

　　Second, one of the most prominent conflicts in the negotiations is the issue of funds.

Developing countries believe that the main reason why the first 10-year target "Aichi Target" has not been achieved is the lack of funds and technology.

WWF noted that while a growing number of leaders are committed to an ambitious global biodiversity agreement, key issues, including how to mobilize the necessary funding, remain unresolved.

The current biodiversity funding gap is estimated to be as high as $700 billion a year, the group said.

In this regard, developed countries expressed negative attitudes.　　

　　"Funding is still the most difficult topic of discussion in every negotiation." WWF Director-General Marco Lambertini said in an interview with reporters before the meeting: "Most of the funding needs come from the Global South, where biological There are higher levels of diversity, but fewer means of conservation. There is no doubt that this conference should agree on increased funding for biodiversity in the South.”

　　Third, access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing is another difficult point in negotiations.

Many developing countries believe that a large amount of genetic resources have been plundered by developed countries, but the resulting benefits have not been shared with them.

Among them, developing countries believe that digital sequence information, that is, gene sequencing information, is genetic resources, but developed countries hold different opinions on this.

　　Also at issue were the coverage of areas beyond national jurisdiction, the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities to access protected areas, and the provision of necessary support to ensure protected areas are effectively protected and implement "other effective area-based conservation measures". means of execution, etc.

Be ambitious and pragmatic

　　When talking about what kind of "framework" can be regarded as a success, Huang Runqiu said: "I think it depends not only on how much we negotiate, but also how much we can achieve in the future. Both aspects must be considered." He said, as As the presidency, China hopes that all the goals and commitments achieved at this conference can be accepted by all parties and stand the test of time.

　　He believes that the key to achieve this is to take into account the ambition and pragmatic balance of the "Framework", which is specifically manifested in: first, whether a resource mobilization system that is compatible with the goals of the "Framework" can be established, including funds, technology, capabilities, etc.; The first is whether to ensure the effective implementation of the "Framework", including planning, reporting, national review, global review, extensive participation, and providing necessary support to developing countries; the third is whether to mobilize the full participation of a large number of parties and stakeholders , to balance the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

　　"We don't have Earth B." Murema warned that the loss of biodiversity is already a matter of life and death for human beings. "If urgent measures are not taken now to reach a global agreement that can better protect nature, we will face destruction."