This CBDA statement on Agenda Item 4 was not read in full due to the Chair reducing the allocated minutes because of time pressure. We publish the full statement below.
This statement is on behalf of the CBD Alliance.
Biodiversity is declining at an unprecedented pace, threatening the ecosystems that sustain all life on Earth. While decades of initiatives have aimed to reverse this trend, most have failed because they target symptoms rather than the deeper political and economic structures driving ecological destruction.
The IPBES Transformative Change Assessment provides valuable insights on the root causes of biodiversity destruction, namely disconnection from and domination over nature and people; concentration of power and wealth; and prioritization of short-term, individual and material gains. It provides principles to guide transformative change – namely, equity and justice, pluralism and inclusion, respectful and reciprocal human-nature relationships, and adaptive learning and action. The Nexus Assessment reinforces that biodiversity loss, climate change, water scarcity, food insecurity, and health risks are interconnected crises that require coordinated, cross-sectoral action.
As such, the most effective way to address biodiversity destruction and interconnected crises is to confront the underlying structural constraints that cut across sectors and crises. At the same time, upholding rights and equity is foundational to achieving sustainable and just outcomes for people and the planet.
It is imperative that Parties to the CBD take up the IPBES analyses in order to really stop biodiversity destruction. In this regard we call for the inclusion of all five strategies proposed by the transformative change assessment to be taken up in paragraph 7 of the draft recommendation. The missing strategies are:
- Implement inclusive, accountable and adaptive governance systems;
- Transform dominant economic and financial paradigms so that they prioritize nature and social equity over private interests;
- Shift dominant societal views and values to recognize and prioritize human-nature interconnectedness;
Finally, it is imperative that there are a clear and defined pathway and process for work by the Secretariat and Parties by which transformative change can be realised in the work of the Convention and KMGBF.
This should include text calling for the
(1) integration of work on transformative change in line with the transformative change assess-
ment, and
(2) consideration of the assessments by the Subsidiary Body on Implementation.