Biodiversity Archives - ClimaTalk

A Timeline Of The CBD COPs

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Sep 15, 2025

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The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was established in 1992 as a legally binding treaty to conserve biodiversity, promote sustainable use, and ensure fair benefit-sharing from genetic resources. Key milestones of the CBD are the Cartagena Protocol on biosafety, the Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit-sharing, and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, which guide conservation efforts, leading to the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. COP15 and 16 were pivotal in creating and implementing the “30x30” goal to protect 30% of the planet’s land and waters by 2030, along with securing financial commitments to support biodiversity efforts.

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UNOC 2025: Where Does International Cooperation For Oceans Stand?

ClimaTalk Contributor

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Jun 9, 2025

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The 2025 UN Ocean Conference is critical for international ocean cooperation, bringing together global stakeholders to address the ocean polycrisis through the theme: "Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean." Building upon previous conferences in 2017 and 2022, UNOC 2025 occurs at a pivotal moment following the adoption of landmark agreements like the High Seas Treaty and the Kunming-Montreal biodiversity framework, while confronting urgent challenges including pollution, overfishing and marine biodiversity degradation. The conference aims to produce the "Nice Ocean Action Plan" and a political declaration; these could establish foundations for post-2030 ocean governance, serving as a crucial test of multilateral cooperation in addressing unprecedented threats to our blue planet with only five years remaining to achieve SDG 14.

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Coral Bleaching: How To Respond To The Ongoing Emergency?

ClimaTalk Contributor

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Jun 9, 2025

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Coral reefs are facing the worst global bleaching event on record, with over 80% of reef areas affected between 2023 and 2025, threatening biodiversity and the livelihoods of over a billion people. The main causes of coral bleaching include rising ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, and local stressors like overfishing and pollution, leading to the loss of half of the world’s corals since 1950. A coordinated global response is essential, involving emissions reduction, local conservation, scientific restoration, effective monitoring, policy reform, and legal action to protect and restore reef ecosystems.

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What’s In An NBSAP?

ClimaTalk Contributor

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Apr 13, 2025

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NBSAPs stand for National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans; they are the mechanism for implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework at the national level. Creating an ambitious NBSAP involves a multi-stakeholder process that engages actors such as government and civil society.Most countries missed the COP16 deadline to submit their updated NBSAP, with commonly cited reasons including a lack of capacity and national elections, and some decided to update their national targets instead.

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Blue Carbon Ecosystems: An Introduction

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Mar 16, 2025

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Blue carbon ecosystems such as seagrass, mangroves and salt marshes store carbon and are crucial to climate change mitigation and adaptation. They also provide other economic and social benefits for people. These ecosystems are very vulnerable to and threatened by human activities.Governments and other actors should place focus on the conservation and restoration of these ecosystems.

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COP16: What Comes After Cali?

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Feb 20, 2025

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COP16 reaffirmed the goal to protect 30% of the world’s land and seas by 2030. However, the first official progress report which was released at COP16 also revealed significant gaps, showing that only 17% of land and 8% of marine areas are currently protected. Financial shortfalls persist, with a $700 billion annual funding gap for biodiversity conservation. Indigenous communities' leadership was acknowledged, but implementing promises and addressing unresolved political conflicts remain crucial as the summit’s second part approaches.

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What Are OECMs and How Do They Work?

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Oct 29, 2024

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Other Effective Conservation Methods (OECMs) are sites that effectively conserve biodiversity even if biodiversity conservation isn’t their primary purpose. They differ from protected areas which are established specifically for biodiversity conservation, whilst OECMs don’t require conservation as the main goal. OECMs have the potential to help achieve effective and equitable conservation, though concerns remain regarding their implementation.

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Wildfires: Their Impact On Climate, Biodiversity And Society

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Oct 29, 2024

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Wildfires are increasing in frequency and intensity due to rising global temperatures, posing a significant threat to climate, biodiversity, and society. Wildfires not only contribute to climate change but also disrupt ecosystems, leading to biodiversity loss and detrimental effects on human health and economies. Effective policy interventions are needed to manage wildfires, mitigate their causes, and reduce their impact on communities and ecosystems.

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Nature-Based Solutions: An Introduction

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Oct 29, 2024

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Nature-based solutions (NbS) are an umbrella term that involves using nature to address societal problems as well as create benefits for biodiversity and climate action. NbS have gained traction in international policy in recent years as a form of climate action being mentioned in various COPs. There is potential for NbS to combat the biodiversity and climate crises, however, the site-specific nature of NbS, makes it difficult to generalise and compare with other alternatives.

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Agroforestry For Biodiversity And Climate Resilience

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Jun 28, 2023

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In addition to food production, modern agriculture must provide ecosystem services such as water quality, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and nutrient cycling. Agroforestry provides ecosystem services by managing trees together with annual crops or pasture lands. A paradigm shift toward agroforestry comes with opportunities for technology, diversification, and employment in agriculture.

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