Sunset over the desert near Yulara in Central Australia. Photo: Arthur Mostead
Global Biodiversity Framework
Following four years of development negotiations, Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework on 19 December 2022, replacing the CBD’s Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its Aichi Targets. The agreement took place at the second part of the fifteenth Conference of Parties (COP-15) held from 7-19 December 2022 in Montreal, Canada Canada under the presidency of the People’s Republic of China.
The framework is made up of 4 global 2050 goals and 23 global 2030 targets, which are broken up into four broad topics in alignment with the goals. This includes, biodiversity conservation and restoration, nature’s contribution to people, access and benefit sharing and tools and solutions for mainstreaming and implementation.
The newly adopted framework will now set the global biodiversity action agenda for the next decade, including:
- halt extinction of known threatened species and significantly reduce extinction risk (Goal A)
- ensure at least 30 per cent of areas of degraded terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine ecosystems are under effective restoration (Target 2)
- ensure at least 30 per cent of terrestrial, inland water, and of coastal and marine areas are effectively conserved and managed (Target 3)
- reduce the rates of introduction and establishment of other known or potential invasive alien species by at least 50 per cent, by 2030 (Target 6)
- reduce pollution risks and impacts of pollution from all sources to prevent harmful impacts on biodiversity (Target 7)
- minimise the impact of climate change and ocean acidification on biodiversity (Target 8)
- mainstream biodiversity into decision-making across government and business (Targets 14 and 15)
Australia’s Involvement
Australia is one of 17 countries in the world described as ‘mega diverse’ and actively engaged in the negotiations that led to the adoption of the GBF. This group of countries cover less than 10 per cent of the world’s area but support more than 70 per cent of biodiversity. The CBD guides international action on biodiversity conservation, and provides a guiding framework to inform our domestic biodiversity conservation priorities.
Demonstrating our continued engagement in development and implementation of the framework Australia signed onto the following statements at COP15.2.
- Ten Point Plan for Financing Biodiversity
- Joint Donor Statement on International Finance for Biodiversity and Nature (PDF)
- NBSAP Accelerator Partnership – Declaration of Intent
Domestically, Australia has already begun demonstrating our commitment to strong action on biodiversity conservation, for example:
- Commitment to protect and conserve 30 per cent of land and 30 per cent of oceans by 2030 (30 by 30)
- Australia is a world leader in protected areas, including through our Indigenous Protected Areas program and National Reserve System
- Australia has one of the world’s largest representative systems of marine protected areas, covering 45 per cent of Australian waters
- Commitment to zero new extinctions, including through our $224 million Saving Native Species program
- Commitment to real and significant climate action, including through our support for private investment in natural capital and nature-based solutions for climate adaptation.
- Working to establish a Nature Repair Market, supporting landholders in Australia to conserve, protect and restore nature.
High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People
In June 2021, Australia joined the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People (HAC). The HAC’s main purpose is to champion the ‘30 by 30’ target as part of the GBF, that is the protection and conservation of 30 per cent of the world’s land and 30 per cent of the world’s oceans by 2030.
The Minister for the Environment and Water, the Hon. Tanya Plibersek MP, is a member of the HAC International Steering Committee that will drive the implementation of the 30 by 30 target globally.
Australia is well placed to champion the work of the HAC as a strong supporter of the protection and conservation of land and sea areas, including through our network of marine protected areas, our National Reserve System and our world-leading Indigenous Protected Areas Program. Membership of the HAC provides the opportunity for Australia to promote the 30 by 30 target and help shape activities consistent with the priorities of the Pacific region.
Contact us
If you have enquiries about Australia’s involvement in the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework or wish to contact us directly, email: CBDAustralia@dcceew.gov.au.