From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Mains level: Climate change; COP 16;
Why in the News?
For the upcoming Annual Climate Change meeting set to take place in Baku (Azerbaijan), on November 11, countries are currently gathered in Cali, Colombia, for the biennial UN Biodiversity Conference.
What is the significance of COP16 in the context of Global biodiversity?
- Post-Kunming-Montreal Framework Implementation: COP16 is the first meeting after the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) in 2022, which set ambitious targets for biodiversity conservation, including the 30 x 30 initiative (conserving 30% of lands and oceans by 2030).
- Elevated Focus on Biodiversity: The conference seeks to bring biodiversity discussions to the forefront, similar to climate change negotiations, acknowledging the interconnectedness of biodiversity and climate crises.
- Strengthening Global Commitments: COP16 aims to accelerate actions to halt biodiversity loss and set the stage for tracking the implementation of the GBF’s goals and targets, emphasizing the urgency of reversing ecosystem degradation.
Key Agendas for COP16:
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How will countries align their NBSAPs with the Global Biodiversity Framework?
- Time-Bound Action Plans: NBSAPs will mirror the approach of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, setting national goals aligned with the GBF’s targets to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.
- Monitoring and Reporting: Countries will have to ensure that their NBSAPs reflect the GBF’s goals and include mechanisms for tracking progress, adapting strategies, and reporting regularly to the CBD Secretariat.
- Integrating Regional Priorities: The NBSAPs will need to account for country-specific biodiversity challenges and regional ecological characteristics while aligning with the global targets set under the Kunming-Montreal Framework.
What role do various stakeholders play in achieving the objectives set out at COP16?
- National Governments: Responsible for formulating and implementing NBSAPs, mobilizing financial resources, and creating policies that align with the GBF’s goals.
- Indigenous and Local Communities: Vital for implementing conservation initiatives, especially in biodiversity-rich areas, and ensuring the fair sharing of benefits derived from traditional knowledge and resources.
- Private Sector and Corporations: Expected to contribute to financing biodiversity conservation, adopt sustainable practices, and support the development of biodiversity credits and conservation-related projects.
- International Organizations and NGOs: Will play a role in monitoring progress, providing technical assistance, advocating for biodiversity-friendly policies, and raising awareness about the importance of biodiversity conservation.
- Scientific and Academic Institutions: Crucial for research, data collection, and providing evidence-based recommendations to guide biodiversity conservation strategies and the sustainable use of natural resources.
Way forward: India needs to enhance it’s regulatory frameworks and establish robust monitoring mechanisms to ensure the effective implementation of biodiversity conservation goals, including the 30 x 30 targets, and prevent the exploitation of ecosystems.
Previous Years Question:
Q). Describe the major outcomes of the 26th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). What are the commitments made by India in this conference? (UPSC CSE 2021)
Q). Explain the purpose of the Green Grid Initiative launched at World Leaders Summit of the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November, 2021. When was this idea first floated in the International Solar Alliance (ISA)? (UPSC CSE 2021)
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