A side event, held during the UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP 15) in Montreal, Canada, discussed opportunities to enhance inter- and intra-regional cooperation to realize the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). Participants identified approaches and partnerships and consolidated ongoing actions to build the capacity of member States of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) in implementing the GBF.

The event themed, ‘Biodiversity Action for and by the Global South,’ took place on 18 December 2022.

One speaker called for increased capacity development and South-South cooperation to implement the GBF and emphasized the need to prioritize concessional finance for implementation. Another discussed the Multilateral Environmental Agreements in ACP Countries – Phase 3 partnership (ACP-MEAs 3), which is looking to engage participants and partners to prepare for GBF implementation and focuses on: enhancing capacity to implement biodiversity-related goals; strengthening Ocean governance; and reducing the impacts of agricultural chemicals.

A European Commission representative cited the EU’s pledge of EUR 7 billion in bilateral and regional support for implementing biodiversity-related goals. A panelist from Saint Kitts and Nevis pointed to the 2022 Bridgetown Initiative, which reiterates that development depends on partnerships, including with international financial institutions.

The event was organized by OACPS, the EU, and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

Another 18 December event, organized by the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN) and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), highlighted GYBN’s efforts to demonstrate the ways in which the support of youth can help achieve the targets of an ambitious GBF. Participants noted that the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, none of which had been achieved, lacked a fair, just, and proper implementation process, missing their mark and leaving future generations extremely vulnerable to degrading ecosystems. The event identified ways to build and enhance an intergenerational partnership to avoid a repeat of the shortcomings witnessed with the Aichi Targets, and strove to learn from their failure to work toward creating an equitable implementation process for the GBF.

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) covered selected side events at the UN Biodiversity Conference, which convened from 7-19 December 2022.