GLAND, Switzerland (September 30, 2024) - A review of countries' National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) by WWF has revealed that the majority of countries are not fully honoring their commitments to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030.
Almost two years ago at the last UN biodiversity conference in Montreal, 196 countries adopted the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. In a first step to implementing the landmark agreement, countries pledged to submit revised national action plans by the subsequent meeting - COP16 - in Cali, Colombia. With the conference only weeks away, and just over 20 fully revised NBSAPs and around 60 national targets published, WWF has serious concerns about the low number of submissions to date, and with the quality of those that have been submitted.
"COP15 culminated with a historic pledge by nearly 200 countries to do their part to halt and reverse the loss of nature by 2030. But achieving that pledge requires action, and this review makes clear that action is falling short," said Ginette Hemley, senior vice president for wildlife at WWF-US. "As we head to COP16 in Colombia we need governments to step up and submit ambitious targets and clear action plans to achieve them. There is still time for progress and we urge the parties gathering in Colombia to help ensure that the pledge they issued at COP15 in Montreal doesn't become an empty promise, but rather an inflection point that secured a sustainable future for people and nature."
"We know change isn't easy and countries are facing challenges such as a lack of funding, insufficient data and political instability, but there is a worrying gap between what was promised in Montreal, and the plans put in place so far to reverse the loss of nature by 2030," says WWF's head of global advocacy, Bernadette Fischler Hooper. "National strategies are a country's blueprint for restoring nature and building better lives and futures for their nations. WWF urges countries who haven't done so, to start their national biodiversity planning, and to those who have - to speed up the delivery of those targets as well as stepping up support to other countries," adds Fischler Hooper.
With only 10% of countries having submitted national plans since COP15, WWF's NBSAP Tracker also assesses national targets published by 33% of countries. The fact that only a small number of countries have fulfilled their obligation is a worrying sign.
"There are various reasons for these poor results," explains Fischler Hooper. "Lack of ambition to do the revisions is one, but other countries just don't have the resources. It is, however, encouraging to see some strong national plans and targets with clear actions, though most still lack sufficient funding for implementation," Fischler Hooper adds."
When it comes to the quality of the plans that have been published, many seem to omit clear and consistent ways of measuring progress. Without this, we could see a lack of accountability during the implementation of plans - which was one of the key failings of the Aichi Targets from 2011-2020.
Another widespread issue is the ineffective engagement across all government bodies. Environment ministries alone cannot enact the society-wide transformational changes we need, it requires all parts of government and economic sectors to engage. The risk is that the plans will not hold the necessary political sway needed over the next five years, especially when it comes to redirecting the annual $500 billion USD in harmful subsidies to nature that countries committed to reduce.
"It's promising to see at least 'on paper' that the principles of inclusive conservation that the agreement was forged in, are remaining at the heart of the framework during implementation at the national level. Plans are largely being produced in consultation and participation with civil society, academia, Indigenous Peoples, local communities and other rights holders as well as the private sector - more so than previously," explains Lin Li, senior director for policy and advocacy at WWF. "Crucial to this, however, is also addressing the drivers of biodiversity loss, eliminating overconsumption and reforming the damaging business and finance models that we know are eroding the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities," adds Li.
"COP16 has to serve as a moment to bolster equitable action, foster solutions and increase political backbone to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030. Delivering updated national actions plans is the first step - and we don't want to fall at the first hurdle," says Li."WWF hopes our NBSAP Tracker will be a useful independent tool, helping to make biodiversity policy accessible to all stakeholders, including policymakers, businesses, rights-holders, citizens and organizations ahead of COP16."
