Reversing Biodiversity Loss and Promoting Positive Gains to 2030
The Sharm El-Sheikh to Kunming Action Agenda for Nature and People (Action Agenda) is spearheaded by the Governments of China and Egypt, with support of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. It was created to foster engagement with non-state actors to inform, inspire and showcase voluntary commitments for biodiversity. The Action Agenda works with non-state actors to raise awareness on the urgency, ambition and concrete actions, across different sectors, that can reduce the drivers of biodiversity loss and enable the needed shifts to halt and reverse biodiversity loss aligning to the
post-2020 global biodiversity framework.
The Action Agenda showcases actions by sub-national and non-state actors. As of 23 June, 2022, the Action Agenda features 426 commitments championing a collective global response for biodiversity in the lead up to the fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP-15), where Parties will set the course to 2030 and beyond with the adoption of a new global biodiversity framework. The post-2020 global biodiversity framework will guide actions worldwide to 2030 to conserve and restore our natural ecosystems, to which our economies and societies depend. The Action Agenda will serve as a mechanism to recognize voluntary commitments, build engagement, and champion non-state actions in the post-2020 process.
Table of Contents
Statements:
- Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
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"I applaud all participants who made commitments, thereby leading by example and contributing to the Sharm El Sheikh to Kunming Action Agenda for Nature and People, through which their actions can be recognized and showcased in the lead-up to and during COP-15...
...It is in everyone’s best interest to take action. We encourage you to support and encourage further action across your networks and beyond, to help advance biodiversity goals and objectives.” |
Biodiversity Commitments:
Organization: Institute Ecofuturo Scale: Natinoal (Brazil) Action Category: Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, Conservation and Restoration of land ecosystems, Conservation and sustainable use of species, Stewardship
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The Institute Ecofuturo, a non-profit organization maintained by Suzano S.A. contributes to transform society through environmental conservation. Its main commitment is managing Neblinas Park, Suzano's environmental reserve located in Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo. To fulfill the commitment the Institute develops environmental education, scientific research, ecotourism, forest management and restoration and community participation, with the collaboration of the Taiaçupeda community (district of Mogi das Cruzes where the entrance to the area is located) and the local government. The commitment is to maintain the 7 thousand hectares of Atlantic Forest and over 1000 species of fauna and flora in the area to promote the conservation and protection of biodiversity. |
Organization: HeidelbergCement Scale: North America/Asia Action Category: Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, Conservation & Restoration of Ecosystems, Conservation and Sustainable use of Species, Freshwater, Coastal, and Ocean Ecosystem
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HeidelbergCement, a global building material manufacturer, commits to restoration, promotion and protection of biodiversity during and after excavation activities. Some of the actions include: 1) undertaking a net impact assessment of all active sites by 2025 ;2) Prepare a proximity study every 3 years, with sites within 1 km of high biodiversity value areas implementing a biodiversity management plan; 3) increase the awareness of its employees and empower them to identify, assess and sustainably manage any occurring species on their extraction sites; 4) engage communities in the importance of biodiversity and habitat restoration. |
Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS) Scale: Global Action Category: Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, Conservation and Restoration of Land Ecosystem, Stewardship and Sustainable Consumption and Production
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Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS), a non-profit civil association, promotes sustainable development in companies operating in Brazil, through articulation with governments and civil society in addition to disseminating the most current concepts and practices on the subject. The Brazilian Business Commitment to Biodiversity, proposes to align the strategies of the business sector in Brazil (e.g. Shell, Siemens, Bayer, Equinor) with international and national strategic plans to contribute to nine targets by 2030. Some of the targets include: 1) applying mitigation hierarchy throughout the lifecyle of projects; 2) promoting and strengthening the best practices that favor the rational use of biodiversity resources; 3) fostering and developing studies; 4) fostering research projects, technology and innovation that contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services; and 5) making information publicly available in order to facilitate management of biodiversity in region and ensure transparency. |
Organization: County Governor of Troms and Finnmark Scale: Europe – Northern Europe Action Category: Conservation and Restoration of Land Ecosystems, Conservation and Sustainable Use of Species, Freshwater, Coastal and Ocean Ecosystems and Urban Sustainability
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Country Governor of Troms and Finnmark commits to maintain and improve the environmental conditions in the catchment areas of Pasvik and Grense Jakobselv-Vuorema rivers, through a joint multi-use plan, including a programme of measures (PoM) developed for 2021 to 2030. Joint measures are expected to reduce the environmental impact of human activity (e.g. atmospheric deposition directly onto surface waters, hydropower and other physical altercations of watercourses, alien and invasive species, and nutrient loading and discharge of pollutants) to sustain and improve the environmental status of the border river catchments between Norway, Russia, and Finland. Some actions of the commitment include: 1) reducing emissions from industry to a level that minimizes impacts in air, aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem, 2) reducing ecological effects of household wastewater discharges on water ecosystems in Pasvik-Inari catchment;, and 4) promoting mass awareness of environmental consequences from human activities. |
Organization: International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Netherlands Scale: Europe (European Union, Netherlands) Action Category: Sustainable Consumption and Production, Urban Sustainability and Stewardship
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International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Netherlands, an international organization working mainly on nature conservation, with Deltaplan Biodiversity recovery and MVO Nederland, is mobilizing Dutch organizations – businesses, local governments, NGOs and citizen initiatives to join the Dutch action agenda for biodiversity. By end of 2021, 151 organizations (e.g. local governments, private sector, civil society) had submitted a pledge related to industries working on agricultural, forest, fisheries, financial services, catering industry. The aim is to expand pledges over the coming years from 250 organizations. |
Organization: WildBound Scale:Global (From COP15 NGO Forum Commitment) Action Category: Stewardship and Urban Sustainability
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WildBound, a non-governmental organization, has committed to create educational content and activities that is expected to reach 60 schools, 180 teachers, 30,000 students, and 3 million viewers on social media by 2023. It will work with partners such as World Wildlife Fund and Peking University High School Dalton Academy to: 1) raise public awareness in schools, communities, and the general public in China and internationally around the intrinsic value of biodiversity protection, forest protection, and sustainable palm oil; 2) create collective action that is initiated by empowered youth to educate their own community, addressing sustainable palm oil, in order to promote responsible businesses and better policymaking to steward global biodiversity. |
Organization: Forest City Studio Scale: National (China) (From COP15 NGO Forum Commitment) Action Category: Urban Sustainability, Conservation and Restoration of Land, Conservation and Sustainable Use of Species, Ecosystems
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Forest City Studio, commits to the development of Nature-Based Solution (NbS) to provide biological diversity, ecological restoration solutions. Some of the targets include 1) By 2025, complete more than 10 urban biodiversity research projects, including conservation or restoration of specific species in urbanized areas, construction of urban microhabitat; 2) By 2030, complete the ecological restoration demonstration cases of seven types of urban habitats (urban green space, country park, farmland, forest, wetland, mountain and roof greening), including no less than 1 square kilometer; 3) By 2040, build ecological corridors with a total length of no less than 100 kilometers and as well as a partial urban ecological network; and 4) By 2050, introduce ecological demonstration zones in megacities, with a total area of no less than 1 square kilometer in areas with a high density of population, including residence communities, commercial complexes, streets and surrounding. |
Organization: ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability - CitiesWithNature Scale: Global Action Category: Urban Sustainability
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ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, a global network of local government with partners such as Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), launched a new CitiesWithNature Action Platform, in March 2022 , and aligned the platform with the Action Agenda to inspire and accelerate systemic and bold actions for nature by enabling cities to make voluntary commitments that contribute to achieving global, regional and national biodiversity targets. The platform, among others, support cities to set their own targets, track progress and compare actions with other cities, both nationally and globally in support of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. The platform also supports cities in gathering information on their contribution to their respective countries’ national activities. Over 200 cities (e.g. New York, São Paulo, London, Cape Town, Istanbul, Montreal and Melbourne) have joined CitiesWithNature platform and are able to make commitments on the Action Platform to the Sharm el Sheikh to Kunming Action Agenda for Nature and People. |
Organization: China Environmental Protection Foundation, the Global Environmental Institute, the Paradise International Foundation, SEE Foundation, All-China Environment Federation and ClientEarth Scale: Global (COP15 NGO Forum Commitments) Action Category: Conservation and Restoration of Land Ecosystems, Conservation and Sustainable Use of Species, freshwater, Coastal and Ocean Biodiversity, Urban Sustainability, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation and Stewardship
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China Environmental Protection Foundation, the Global Environmental Institute, the Paradise International Foundation, SEE Foundation, All-China Environment Federation and ClientEarth, in collaboration with the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China, the China NGO Network for International Exchanges, and the CBD Secretariat, organized a COP15 NGO Parallel Forum to mobilize over 50 pledges from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), businesses, local governments and other non-state actors based in China to contribute to the Sharm el Sheikh to Kunming Action Agenda. The event was held on the margins of COP-15 ( Part 1) from 27 to28 September 2021. The commitment includes a $ 2.55 billion RMB (Chinese Yuan) biodiversity conservation pledge from 10 leading Chinese NGOs and companies. Pledges aim to increase the participation of non-state actors in the development and implementation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. Commitments received have set time-bound targets for companies, non-governmental organizations, local governments and other non-state actors on different themes to address the drivers of biodiversity loss and achieve the needed transformational change. |
Organization: Village Farmers Initiative Scale: Africa Description: Conservation and Restoration of Land Ecosystems, Biosafety, Food Systems and Health, Access and Benefit-Sharing, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation and Stewardship
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Village Farmers Initiative (VFI), an indigenous peoples and local community organisation with a network of over 2000 women and youth farmers and fisherfolk, from the Anam riverine communities in Nigeria. We are committed by, at least 2026, to activities related to biosafety, biodiversity and ecosystem restoration, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and preservation and protection of indigenous food heritages and sustainable use of natural resources with traditional ecological knowledge. VFI will, among others : 1) Advocate and raise awareness of the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Protocols to a network of indigenous people and local communities; 2) adopt innovations on nature-positive production, plant-rich diet and menu to drastically reduce carbon emissions in our environment; and 3) promote climate justice; people, economic and community resilience of women and youth in our socially and economically disadvantaged communities.
Scale: Africa -Nigeria
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Organization: Cultural Intellectual Property Rights Initiative Scale: Global Description: Stewardship and Consumption and Production
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The Cultural Intellectual Property Rights Initiative, commits to eliminate culturally appropriative behaviour in the fashion industry with a vision to create a system that nurtures, sustains and protects Traditional Knowledge (TK) and Traditional Cultural Expressions (TKE). The initiative is a worldwide movement supporting the recognition of cultural intellectual property rights for craftsmen and women who are the custodians and transmitters of traditional garments, traditional designs and traditional manufacturing techniques. The initiative develops frameworks and tools to promote the value of TK and TCEs. By 2030, the goal of the initiative is to facilitate the implementation of the 3Cs’ Rule (Consent, Credit, Compensation Framework) in the benefit of over 100 communities or indigenous people-led initiatives in Europe, South-East Asia, India, Latin America and East Africa, and to translate the 3Cs - Get Weaving! campaign into over 60 languages. In addition, the Cultural Sustainability Academy, a 6-week-executive program for decision-makers and members of Indigenous peoples and local communities, community representatives and leaders in the fashion industry will by 2030, enable 120 alumni to become agents of change for biocultural diversity to support commercial practices that are culturally sustainable with environmental and culture sustainability through traditional knowledge. |
New flyers on commitments:
Useful Information
Contains information on recent updates related to the action agenda.
Web story: New Online Platform Showcases Civil Society, Local Authority and Business Pledges for Nature
Web story: New CitiesWithNature Action Platform with the CBD’s Action Agenda
Web story: Building Momentum: Pledges increase to the Action Agenda after a joint call for action at NGO parallel forum
Johan Hedlund (1962 – 2022) With immense sadness, we announce the untimely death of our colleague, Johan Hedlund, who held the position of Associate Information Officer at the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity since 2006. Johan’s passing is a devastating loss for the CBD Secretariat, our sadness is lessened only slightly with the comforting thought that we had the privilege to know him. More information is available at
https://www.cbd.int/article/in-memoriam-johan-hedlund
Orestes Plasencia (1965 – 2022) With immense sadness, we announce the death of our colleague, Orestes Plasencia, who held the position of Editor at the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity since 2014. Orestes left us suddenly on 5 January while in Miami, Florida. Orestes’ passing is a devastating loss for the SCBD and he will be sorely missed by everyone who had the pleasure of working with him. More information is available at
https://www.cbd.int/article/in-memoriam-orestes-plasencia
International Day for Biodiversity
Quotes are also available at:
: https://www.cbd.int/action-agenda/quotes.shtml and
https://www.cbd.int/biodiversity-day/messages
22 actions for the Action Agenda is available at:
22 Reasons to Join Action Agenda for Nature and People
22 actions for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is available at:
https://www.cbd.int/idb/activities/22actions-biosafety.pdf
22 actions for the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing is available at:
https://www.cbd.int/idb/activities/22actions-abs.pdf
Notifications:
Venue and Date for Part Two of the Fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties, the Tenth meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol and the Fourth meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol
Fourth meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (21-26 June 2022 – Nairobi, Kenya)
2022 United Nations High-Level Political Forum
Negotiating Documents related to the Action Agenda:
Actors other than national governments in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework – catalyzing ambition and action 2020-2030
Commitments from actors other than national governments in the context of an enhanced planning, monitoring, review and reporting mechanism
National reporting under the Convention: Revised guidance and draft template for the seventh and eighth national reports
Options to enhance planning, reporting, and review mechanisms with a view to strengthening the implementation of the Convention
Statistics
The statistics section has information on the recent number of commitments and other relevant statistics based on the commitment categories.
350 commitments
(As of end of April 2022)
Statistics on stakeholders and regions (Some commitments address multiple stakeholders, categories and regions)
(As of the end of April 2022)
Events
The events section has information on recent and upcoming events related to the Action Agenda.
Recent Events
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Information session: The CO14 and COP 15 Presidencies of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), together with the Co-chairs of the Fourth Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (WG2020-4) and the Friends of Action group for the Sharm El Sheikh to Kunming Action Agenda for Nature and People co-convened an information session to highlight the role of the Action Agenda. The event showcased the momentum building across a whole-of-society, engaging non-state actors and shaping elements of the Action Agenda, in the lead up to COP 15 and beyond. The event underscored fundamental links between non-state actors and the real economy at local, sub-national, national, and global levels. The session at OWEG4 has shown the momentum building across a whole of society, shaping elements of the Action Agenda roadmap, in the lead up to COP15 and beyond. Strong willingness and support to the Action Agenda among Parties and non-state actors were recognized. High Level Action Day to be organized at COP15 – to elevate the role of non-state actors and enhance the Action Agenda forward as a key vehicle for the implementation of the post-2020 framework.
Mr. Manuel Pulgar-Vidal was recognized as the “First Action Agenda Champion” for Nature and People. This role will help the co-sponsors of the initiative to move the Action Agenda forward to COP15 and beyond to the next COPs.
More information can be found at https://www.cbd.int/action-agenda/infosession.shtml
Video recording: Information session on the Action Agenda (25 June 2022 – Nairobi, Kenya)
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Webinar: New Nature Commitment Platform by created by the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), in partnership with the Government of the Netherlands and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity launch. The webinar launch was in the wake of the International Day for Biological Biodiversity, aims to raise awareness and inspire action by non-governmental organizations, local communities and business to protect, sustainably manage and restore areas of land and water. The new platform showcases civil society, local authority and business pledges for nature at Nature's Commitment Platform. The site showcases more than 190 current area-based conservation pledges and encourages organizations to upload their own commitments. |
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Webinar: Mechanisms for Reporting, Assessment and Review of Implementation (Subsidiary Body of Implementation, Item 9). A series of webinars in the lead-up to the resumed sessions of SBSTTA-24, SBI-3 and WG2020-3, was held from 13 to19 March, 2022to update Parties and observers on new documents, organization of work and other aspects of the meeting as necessary. This first webinar focused on SBI item 9 on agenda to enhance planning, reporting and review mechanism, including a document on “Commitments from actors other than national governments in the context of an enhanced planning, monitoring, review and reporting mechanism”. More information is available at https://www.cbd.int/article/pre-geneva-2022-webinars/webinar-jan-13. |
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Webinar: Anchoring non-state action within CBD processes – institutional and operational options for the post-2020 framework. In December 2021, with the objective to support negotiators, and more broadly all stakeholders, involved in the preparation of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI) and PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency organized two workshops to foster discussions on the options to enhance non-state commitments to the Action Agenda and to link the commitments to the Global Biodiversity Framework and other international frameworks, while ensuring both ambition and measurability. |
Upcoming Events
- UN Biodiversity Conference (COP-15, COP-MOP 10 and COP-MOP 4), part two, 5- 17 December, including an Action Day for the Action Agenda and a CEPA Fair event for biosafety commitments
- Information session on the Action Agenda (25 June 2022 – Nairobi, Kenya)
Other news
Make a pledge Editors:
Ulrika Nilsson
Catalina Santamaria
Hassan Malik
Contact information:
action.agenda@cbd.int
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Disclaimer: The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the two secretariats, nor does citing of trade names or commercial processes constitute endorsement.
