Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Environment
Why in News?
The Yerevan Pathway was adopted at COP17 as member countries concluded negotiations and approved decisions on 50 agenda items to advance global biodiversity conservation efforts.
COP 17 to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
- Concluded in – Yerevan, Armenia.
- Adopted – The Yerevan Pathway, to accelerate implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) by 2030.
Yerevan Pathway
- A negotiated roadmap established in response to the inaugural global review of progress under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
- Aim – To expedite progress toward achieving global biodiversity targets by 2030.
- Key priorities
- Reduce subsidies and incentives that negatively impact biodiversity.
- Increase financial, scientific and technical support to developing countries.
- Align national budgets and economic decision-making processes with the objectives of the KMGBF.
- Strengthen mechanisms for implementation, monitoring, reporting, and review.
Key Outcomes of COP 17
- Global Biodiversity Targets
- Approximately 50 decisions were adopted addressing scientific, technical, and implementation-related issues.
- A global review determined that progress is insufficient to achieve all 23 KMGBF targets by 2030.
- Sevan Guidelines
- Operational rules were established for the new permanent subsidiary body under Article 8(j) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
- These guidelines enhance the participation of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) in biodiversity policymaking.
- Biodiversity Financing
- Nearly US$2 billion in new biodiversity funding commitments were announced.
- US$560 million was allocated to the GEF-9 replenishment and the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund.
- US$500 million was committed to the Species Recovery Alliance.
- Over US$330 million was directed to the Value Nature Fund, which mobilizes private capital.
- Other Initiatives
- Initiatives were introduced to reform incentives that are detrimental to biodiversity.
- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) launched a biodiversity bond and investment incubator.
- A model framework law on forests was proposed to strengthen environmental enforcement.
- State of Nature Indicators and Metrics were introduced to enhance biodiversity monitoring.
- There was an increased emphasis on biodiversity education.
Key Areas Addressed – COP 17 adopted decisions regarding the following areas:
- Protected areas and forest biodiversity
- Sustainable wildlife management
- Invasive Alien Species (IAS)
- Risk assessment of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs)
- Marine and coastal biodiversity
- Synthetic biology
- Biodiversity mainstreaming
COP 18 of CBD – Scheduled for 2028 in Ecuador.
Reference
UN News | UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 17) – Yerevan Pathway
