Whole-of-society contributions will receive visibility they deserve 

The CBD Secretariat has recently activated a new feature in the Convention’s Online Reporting Tool (ORT) allowing actors other than national governments to submit their commitments to the global endeavor to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. Representatives of indigenous peoples and local communities, subnational governments, cities and other local authorities, intergovernmental organizations, other multilateral environmental agreements, non-governmental organizations, women, youth, research organizations, the business and finance community, and representatives of sectors related to or dependent on biodiversity are invited to contribute.

Submissions will include information on voluntary contributions to advancing government-led National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).

Here are three aspects illustrating why the new feature constitutes a major step forward in the global race to implement the KMGBF:
 

1. Recognizing the whole-of-society push to turn the tide on biodiversity loss

It is a fact: governments — no matter how big or wealthy — cannot singlehandedly undertake the deep and far-reaching transformative change needed to halt and reverse global biodiversity loss. To achieve the 23 targets of the KMGBF by 2030, each country needs to leverage all the resources at its disposal, including the mosaic of actions and contributions from actors other than national governments.

In line with the COP 15 decision on mechanisms for planning, monitoring, reporting and review, this newly announced feature of the ORT will give these vital contributions visibility and  highlight their significance alongside government-led action.

2. Fostering country-level collaborations through transparency and dialogue  

Considering that the submissions of actors other than national governments will be made publicly available through the ORT, the exercise will contribute to strengthening awareness and catalyzing a whole-of-society surge in biodiversity action. Submissions will inspire peers and encourage many to demonstrate their own engagement and contributions. The resulting mobilization will yield benefits across the 23 targets of the KMGBF.

Considering the world’s myriad national contexts and political settings, the inclusive ORT brings a robust, standardized platform that can strengthen communication and dialogue between governments and their national partners. In certain settings, the CBD National Focal Points may elect to submit information on behalf of actors other than national governments. Fostering understanding, avoiding duplications and increasing overall efficiencies benefit nature and people.

3. Boosting the global review of progress in the implementation of the KMGBF

Thanks to the new ORT feature, the report on collective progress in the implementation of the KMGBF—which will be instrumental for the first global review to take place at the 2026 United Nations Biodiversity Conference, COP 17, in Yerevan— will  benefit from a reliable flow of information covering what is being undertaken beyond governmental action.

Actors other than national governments are now able to communicate their commitments in a harmonized fashion, using standard templates provided in Annex II to decision 16/32 and in line with the “multidimensional approach” to planning, monitoring, reporting and review adopted in decision 15/6.

The functionality will remain available, but actors other than national governments that wish to contribute information for possible inclusion in the global report are requested to submit their commitments as soon possible and no later than 28 February 2026—the same deadline set for the 7th national reports under the CBD.  

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Here is a quick guide on how actors other than national governments can submit commitments through the Online Reporting Tool.