COP16 Dispatch: Week 1 Climate change and biodiversity at COP16

By Astrid Caldas

Target 8 of the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Kumming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) is to “Minimize the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and build resilience.” It is no surprise the topic is being mentioned in various spaces where it is not the focus – there cannot be conservation of biodiversity without climate change mitigation. That is a certainty with which countries have to contend when devising actions and policies to protect and restore biodiversity and fight climate change.

Theresa Mundita Lim, Josef Settele, Carlos Nobre, Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, and Gilles Doignon, gathered at the 6th Science-Policy Forum and 9th Sustainability Science Conference on October 27, 2024 at COP16.

As I mentioned during my remarks at a panel on the Science Forum at COP16, the world cannot be safe with the threats of climate change and biodiversity loss not being properly addressed. Biodiversity is deeply threatened by rising emissions that warm the atmosphere, leading to a multitude of cascading impacts such as the loss of species themselves and the loss of species functions in essential ecosystems because conditions do not allow for those functions to persist. What follows is the destabilization of ecosystems, many times leading to the collapse of entire essential ecosystem functions without which larger systems are impacted.

These cascading effects are worsened by land use changes, in particular the use and exhaustion of natural resources. That is why the best way to protect biodiversity is through an ecosystem approach, which comprehensively addresses all the moving parts of the system, or at least tries to.

Maintenance of biodiversity, conversely, is part of the solution to achieving a stable climate. If nothing else, biodiversity loss means loss of carbon stored in living organisms. However, solutions to the climate crisis cannot rely on biodiversity conservation alone. Among other important recommendations, empowering and incorporating indigenous and traditional knowledge into mainstream western science is a big part of this vision, and will create new, better opportunities for solutions.

For successful outcomes for both the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), it is essential that these two conventions work together so that synergies help with outcomes and solutions. There is a big push for more collaboration between the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IBPES) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) beyond their collaboration on a 2021 joint report. [link to https://files.ipbes.net/ipbes-web-prod-public-files/2021-06/2021_IPCC-IPBES_scientific_outcome_20210612.pdf]

Cover of the book titled “Biodiversity and Climate Change”.

As we look at the upcoming UNFCCC COP29, it is imperative that such a collaboration be part of the talks, especially as a priority in preparation for the climate COP30 in Brazil, a biodiversity-rich country. The outcomes of the CBD COP16 should be recognized as an important part of UNFCCC COP29 and COP30.

For both Conventions, it is important to make the right connections across science, society, climate impacts, biodiversity, ecosystem services and conservation, including the issue of protection of rights. Only then can we ensure just and equitable outcomes.

Disclaimer: Opinions are solely those of the guest contributor and not an official ESA policy or position.