Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) shall adopt a post-2020 global biodiversity framework. This framework will be a stepping stone towards the United Nations’ 2050 Vision of "Living in harmony with nature" where "By 2050, biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people”.
The current COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how critical biodiversity health and ecosystem stability is for the world.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) works on sustaining ecosystems to meet ecological and human needs. UNEP’s work on this goal includes: building scientific knowledge on the links between ecosystems and human health; assisting countries to implement national biodiversity strategy and action plans; partnering with the private sector to build the business case for healthy ecosystems; encouraging the mobilization of resources for productive ecosystems; and supporting biodiversity-related multilateral environmental agreements.
UNEP’s efforts additionally include recognising the role of communities and indigenous peoples in strengthening the relationship between nature and people as well as safeguarding those who stand up for environmental rights.
“It is precisely because of the interconnected nature of all life on this planet, that an ambitious post-2020 biodiversity framework matters greatly, and we remain committed to efforts to make this happen.” UNEP Statement on COVID-19
The preparation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework is a comprehensive participatory process. Essentially, various stakeholders are invited to share their expertise and advice on its content, goals, language and indicators. One of these formally recognised consultations was a workshop on the inclusion of human rights in the framework held in Chiang Mai, Thailand from 18th to 20th February.
Human rights and a healthy planet are mutually dependent. We will only achieve our goals for 2020 and beyond through transformative changes in economic, social, political and technological systems. Our reciprocal relationships with the rest of the planet should be our guide, rather than a utilitarian approach that views nature only in terms of “services” and “benefits”. In order to bend the curve of biodiversity loss, we need to bend the curve of inequality.
Ultimately, the post- 2020 global biodiversity framework can assist as we build back better in the post-COVID world; healthy, functioning ecosystems are central to a post-COVID world. However, to build back better, the post- 2020 global biodiversity framework must deal effectively with governance, human rights and equitable sharing of benefits and costs.
At the end of the workshop, the participants developed a report outlining options to enhance rights to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. They identified key messages and shared human rights-based approaches to be further explored, analysed and developed.
They additionally provided overarching reflections and suggestions on the structure, logic, vision, mission and goals of the zero draft of the framework, alongside edits to the draft’s text. The 42 participants hold diverse competencies and included representatives from CBD Parties, intergovernmental organizations, civil society, indigenous peoples and local communities, youth, women, academia and UN agencies. They were selected in a nomination process based on relevant earlier experiences and expertise.
“The organisers and participants of the workshop call on all CBD Parties, including the High Ambition Coalition, to be bold, ambitious and work with integrity and conviction to respect, protect and fulfil human rights in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework”. Report of the Thematic Workshop on Human Rights as enabling condition in the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework 18 – 20 February 2020, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Collaboration and inclusion were correspondingly integrated into the workshop.
Firstly, webinars in English, French and Spanish were held. Secondly, participants spent one full day of the workshop in conversation with indigenous Karen communities, Hin Lad Nai and Doi Chang Pa Pae. The visit was carefully planned, including through several preparatory meetings with the indigenous communities to explain the workshop, its participants, and how the information and knowledge shared during the workshop will be used. The visit helped ensure that the content in the proposals have local to global relevance; and can be understood, analysed and confirmed as valid to protect people, culture and biodiversity across scales.
The workshop provided a forum at which different options were suggested on how, where and why to include and integrate human rights for achieving conservation, sustainable use and benefit sharing of biodiversity in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. These outputs contributed to deliberations in the second meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework which was held in Rome from 24 to 29 February, and will further inform processes leading up to the COP 15.
The workshop was convened by the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of UNEP, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Forest Peoples Programme, International Development and Law Organization, Natural Justice and SwedBio at Stockholm Resilience Centre. UNEP was represented by Georgina Lloyd, Regional Coordinator for Environmental Law and Governance in Asia and the Pacific, who participated throughout the meeting.
For more information, contact Georgina Lloyd
