25 July 2014: Biodiversity and ecosystems are included throughout the 17 goals and 169 targets proposed by the Open Working Group (OWG) on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The CBD describes the OWG’s final outcome as “extremely positive from the perspective of the CBD and the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets,” noting the agreement sets the stage for better links between the implementation of the CBD’s agenda and the post-2015 development agenda.

Biodiversity is addressed in Proposed Goal 14, ‘Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development,’ and Goal 15, ‘Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.’ Goal 12 on sustainable consumption and production (SCP) is also relevant to the CBD Strategic Plan. The CBD particularly welcomes the linkage between biodiversity, poverty eradication and sustainable development in target 15.9: “by 2020, integrate ecosystems and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes and poverty reduction strategies, and accounts.” Biodiversity, ecosystems and natural resources are also discussed in goals on food security, water and sanitation and cities and human settlements and in the chapeau, which underscores conservation, sustainable use and equitable benefit sharing as central to sustainable development.

CBD Executive Secretary Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias welcomed the OWG outcome, saying the “results demonstrate the growing recognition that biodiversity is essential for sustainable development,” including recognition from outside the traditional biodiversity community. He called for biodiversity to remain strongly positioned in the final post-2015 outcome and for the effective implementation of goals and targets. He invited CBD Parties to take the goals and targets into consideration in the planning and implementation of their revised National Biodiversity Strategies and Actions Plans (NBSAPs).

The upcoming 12th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the CBD is expected to adopt decisions on biodiversity, forests and oceans with the potential to advance the SDGs and their targets as well as synergies between the CBD and the post-2015 process, according to the CBD. [CBD Press Release] [CBD Notification] [IISD RS Coverage of OWG 13] [OWG Outcome Document]