It is critical that we secure an ambitious and transformational Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) at the Convention on Biological Diversity 15th Convention of the Parties (CBD COP15) in December. The CBD COP15 needs to be the “Paris moment” for biodiversity. That is why the Leaders’ Pledge for Nature (LPN), the High Ambition Coalition for Nature & People (HAC) and Global Ocean Alliance (GOA) are coming together to propose a high-level event to be held either directly ahead of or at the completion of CBD COP15.

The event will seek to bring together countries and non-state actor organisations at the highest level possible to galvanise political momentum and ambitious actions to a) achieve an ambitious and transformational GBF at CBD COP15, including meaningful targets on finance, 30x30 on land and ocean, the importance of the ocean; and b) ensure its successful implementation both on land and ocean by 2030, including by demonstrating support for a comprehensive approach to finance for biodiversity. The event will present a comprehensive view of what has already been achieved through collaboration between these 3 coalitions in support of an ambitious and transformation GBF and its implementation, in particular restating many of the announcements made in the last year, whilst also providing a platform for further ambitious announcements.

This joint coalition event will build strongly on previous examples of successful high level collaborative events across the LPN/HAC/GOA initiative, in particular the recent leader-level event at UNGA-77 that reaffirmed negotiations at CBD CoP15 as a priority for leaders, securing several announcements in support of catalysing biodiversity finance, as well as announcements of initiatives in support of the implementation of the GBF. This event built on the highly successful leader-level moments convened in the side-lines of UNGA-76, UNGA-75, Stockholm+50 and UNFCCC COP26. These events demonstrate the strength and convening power of the three coalitions to raise ambition and secure commitments from parties globally. This event at CBD CoP15 will act as a final push from the three coalitions to ensure that an ambitious and transformational GBF is agreed, financed and implemented.

The HAC and the GOA are proposing additional side-events at CBD COP15 to deep-dive into the implementation of 30x30 and ocean targets across the GBF. This high level event will also be an opportunity to amplify and build on the important messages conveyed during these technical events. 

About the hosts:

LPN – The Leaders’ Pledge for Nature is a leader-level commitment to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. It has been endorsed by 94 country parties (including EU) and has support from over 100 non-state actor organisations.

GOA - The Global Ocean Alliance (GOA) is an active and growing UK-led alliance with 72 country members and counting, championing ambitious and meaningful ocean action in the CBD, including the 30by30 ocean target.

HAC – The High Ambition Coalition for Nature & People is an intergovernmental group of more than 100 countries co-chaired by Costa Rica and France and by the United Kingdom as Ocean co-chair, championing a global deal for nature and people with the central goal of protecting at least 30 percent of the world’s land and ocean by 2030.

 Event objectives: 

1. Present previous actions and new announcements from high ambition countries and organisations, including members of the LPN, HAC and GOA, to halt and reverse biodiversity loss and achieve nature positivity by 2030.

2. Highlight the importance of securing a highly ambitious GBF, including the adoption of the protection and conservation of at least 30% of the planet’s land and ocean by 2030. 

3. Convene Parties and civil society with the aim to raise ambition and broker agreement around key negotiation issues to deliver a final push to ensure the agreement of an ambitious and transformational GBF. 

4. Highlight barriers to implementing the GBF and achieving nature positivity by 2030 and present ambitious solutions, including ensuring a comprehensive nature finance package from all sources.

5. Kickstart the successful implementation of the post-2020 GBF.

 

Outcomes: 

• CBD negotiators and decision makers within countries receive a strong signal of the existence of a united and active community, including governments and civil society organisations, who support the agreement of an ambitious GBF, and have taken and will take, ambitious steps to support its implementation.

•  CBD negotiators receive clear mandates at a high-level to ensure ambitious outcomes for the GBF, including unblocking contentious issues.

• Countries are reassured by the types of resources available (beyond solely finance) such as technical assistance, best practice and other knowledge sharing opportunities to deliver an ambitious GBF.

Event format:

The format of the event will likely depend on the date of the event but is likely to follow a similar format to previously successful high-level events:

• Opening segment with remarks from high profile leaders.

• 2 carefully curated panel discussions to land key messages, most likely on points proving to be most difficult in reaching agreement on the GBF, for example implementation and finance.

•  Closing segment with remarks from high profile leaders.

The event will host speakers including a broad range of high-profile government leaders and civil society representatives, scientists and IPLCs amongst others. 

Please note: We are keen to create a leader-level moment ahead of CBD COP15, and would like to therefore hold our event on the 6th of December (we have chosen 7th below because the drop down doesn’t allow for the 6th). However, should arrangements be made for Leaders to take part in a similar event towards the start of COP15, the HAC, GOA and LPN suggest that there will be no need for this proposal to be considered further.