On Monday, the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will begin in Cali, Colombia. As the first COP since the adoption of the Global Biodiversity Framework in 2022, Parties will focus on translating the framework into concrete action. They are expected to present updated National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) to align with the framework’s bold new goals and targets. With just five years remaining to meet these targets, the urgency for effective implementation is greater than ever. In this race against time, maintaining the health of the ocean and its ecosystems is vital to address biodiversity loss and accelerate the delivery of the Global Biodiversity Framework. COP16 provides a key opportunity to ensure full consideration of the ocean in the implementation of the Framework, and that the levers for action are fully activated.
Nature is Also Blue
Adopted at COP15, the Global Biodiversity Framework is a landmark agreement designed to halt, and ultimately reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. It is structured around four overarching goals and divided into twenty-three targets, providing a clear pathway towards living in harmony with nature. The CBD mandate covers all life on Earth, encompassing both terrestrial and marine ecosystems without distinction. As a result, the absence of specific targets for marine biodiversity does not imply exclusion but rather inclusion by default. The ocean is therefore cross-cutting throughout the framework. However, in practice, it often receives less attention. For instance, the share of biodiversity-related finance allocated to the ocean has been lagging behind. To address this underrepresentation, and considering that the health of marine and coastal biodiversity is essential to the delivery of the Global Biodiversity Framework, it is essential to recognise that Nature Is Also Blue.
With the focus now shifting to implementation, COP16 provides a critical opportunity to ensure that marine and coastal ecosystems are effectively considered and integrated, particularly in countries’ National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) – the main vehicle for the implementation. Parties are indeed required to revise their national strategies to align with the new goals and targets of the Framework, and it is essential that they include robust measures to protect and sustainably manage marine and coastal ecosystems. Yet, just days before the beginning of COP16 – the submission deadline, only 25 out of 196 Parties have submitted their updated NBSAPs. While change is challenging, and many countries face obstacles such as lack of data or sufficient finance, a concerning ambition gap remains between the commitments made in Montreal and the actions taken thus far to protect marine biodiversity.
Blue delivery of the Global Biodiversity Framework
When the Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted, it was agreed that a strong monitoring framework was necessary to track and assess progress made. Indeed, the failure to achieve the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, the preceding policy framework, was often attributed to the absence of such a mechanism. This places the finalisation of the monitoring framework as a key priority for COP16. Although the negotiations are at an advanced stage, limiting the potential for major amendments, a critical opportunity remains to strengthen ocean representation in the indicators. This is essential as indicators can serve as catalysts for action among Parties and highlight the ocean’s contribution to the achievement of each target. Currently, the ocean is relatively well addressed but certain sectors, such as fisheries and aquaculture, are underrepresented, and require targeted improvements.
Furthermore, two agenda items of COP16 will focus specifically on the ocean. One item addresses the programme of work on marine and coastal biodiversity, which outlines the key actions needed by Parties to sustainably use and conserve these key ecosystems. A revision of the programme is underway to establish new priorities for action, guiding Parties on where to concentrate their efforts, and will be considered for adoption in Cali. It is therefore essential that issues at the ocean-climate-biodiversity nexus, many of which have been underrepresented so far, are identified. At this stage, these issues are reflected in the draft decision, signalling a positive shift towards greater attention to the interactions between climate and biodiversity. However, the list of identified priorities is extensive, and Parties will need to streamline it to address real gaps. To support this effort, the OCP, in partnership with the Lyell Centre, The Nature Conservancy, and WWF, has developed a discussion paper on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity Issues for COP16, aimed at providing strategic insights that will facilitate the adoption of this decision.
A Blue Thread Across Biodiversity and Climate Conventions
As recalled by Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, former Executive Secretary of the CBD, “The health of our oceans is integral to the health of our planet. As we face the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, we must prioritise the protection and sustainable management of marine ecosystems.” Recognising this critical link, it becomes evident that ocean-based solutions have the potential to deliver not only on the Global Biodiversity Framework, but also on the Paris Agreement. However, unlocking this potential requires their integration into national biodiversity and climate strategies in a holistic and coherent manner, which is currently missing. While these strategies are inherently complementary and overlapping, they are addressed as separate processes, and involve different groups of stakeholders. NBSAPs primarily engage ministries and national agencies on conservation, forestry and agriculture, whereas their climate counterpart, the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), engage those focused on energy, transport and industry. As a result, ocean policies are developed in silos, addressing either biodiversity or climate goals, without systematically considering the two. Yet, this year’s agenda presents a significant opportunity to strengthen coordination and alignment as, for the first time, submissions overlap with biodiversity strategies due in October 2024 and climate strategies due in February 2025.
To guide countries in their synergy journey, the Ocean & Climate Platform and the Blue Marine Foundation, along with nine partner organisations, launched the policy brief “Blue Thread: Aligning National Climate and Biodiversity Strategies”. The brief (1) demonstrates that the Biodiversity and Climate Conventions can effectively collaborate to support alignment at the national level. Moreover, it (2) explores how ocean-based solutions can enhance policy coherence across NBSAPs and NDCs for more efficiency and impact. Finally, the brief (3) considers different levers and opportunities to accelerate and scale these solutions.
This policy brief also puts forward the Ocean Breakthroughs – launched last year at Climate COP28 – as a driver to accelerate ocean-based solutions. Articulated around five key sectors – marine conservation, aquatic food, offshore renewable energy, shipping, and coastal tourism – the Ocean Breakthroughs address the fundamental question of the theory of change: ‘What must we achieve by 2030 to transform the way these sectors operate?’ By establishing turning points for each ocean sector, they aim to contribute to a resilient, nature-positive and net-zero future by 2050. In this context, the Ocean Breakthroughs can effectively advance both nature and climate goals in a holistic and equitable manner, responding to the need for more synergies at the implementation level.
As governments prepare to submit more ambitious strategies, these Breakthroughs can serve as valuable tools for integrating ocean-based measures, while encouraging the mobilisation of non-state actors. In the spirit of synergies, the Ocean & Climate Platform and the High Level Climate Champions, alongside the ocean community, will bring the Ocean Breakthroughs to the biodiversity sphere, demonstrating its relevance to the goals and targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
The Global Biodiversity Framework offers a chance to restore harmony with nature. However, strong political will followed by tangible actions is paramount to effectively implement and deliver on the global goals the world has agreed upon. At COP16, the ocean community will be highly mobilised to elevate the role of the ocean in delivering on these goals, drawing a sustainable path forward.