Mainstreaming biodiversity proposal is dangerous and will not halt its collapse

Friends of the Earth International criticizes the CBD's draft decision on biodiversity mainstreaming, asserting that it promotes 'greenwashing' and corporate power while failing to address the drivers of biodiversity loss. The statement argues that the draft relies on flawed mechanisms such as offsetting, ecosystem accounting, and voluntary certification schemes instead of enforceable regulations to limit resource extraction and corporate expansion into natural areas. It further contends that the proposal unfairly shifts the responsibility for sustainable consumption onto individual consumers and sidelines the role of indigenous peoples and local communities, who protect 80% of biodiversity-rich areas.

• The draft decision to "mainstream biodiversity in all sectors" is criticized for focusing on voluntary corporate actions and 'sustainable practices' rather than governmental regulation of corporations, such as rules limiting resource extraction or the expansion of projects into natural areas.
• The document argues that the draft's reliance on offsetting and the mitigation hierarchy is dangerous, as it provides a "licence to further destroy natural areas" by allowing destruction to be compensated for elsewhere.
• The use of 'Ecosystem accounting' and 'natural capital' in national accounting is viewed as an unproven and volatile approach that ignores the non-quantifiable cultural, spiritual, and intrinsic values of nature.
• The statement highlights a failure to center the governance of biodiversity around the people who protect it, noting that indigenous peoples and local communities manage 80% of biodiversity-rich areas.
• The draft is criticized for placing the responsibility for sustainable lifestyles on individual consumers rather than addressing the systemic structures and governmental failures that drive unsustainable consumption.

APA

FOEIAdmin (2021). Mainstreaming biodiversity proposal is dangerous and will not halt its collapse. Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/mainstreaming-biodiversity-proposal-is-dangerous-and-will-not-halt-its-collapse/

Chicago

FOEIAdmin. Mainstreaming biodiversity proposal is dangerous and will not halt its collapse. Friends of the Earth International, 2021. https://www.foei.org/mainstreaming-biodiversity-proposal-is-dangerous-and-will-not-halt-its-collapse/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=FOEIAdmin |title=Mainstreaming biodiversity proposal is dangerous and will not halt its collapse |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |date=18 May 2021 |url=https://www.foei.org/mainstreaming-biodiversity-proposal-is-dangerous-and-will-not-halt-its-collapse/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{foeiadmin2021mainstreaming, author = {FOEIAdmin}, title = {{Mainstreaming biodiversity proposal is dangerous and will not halt its collapse}}, publisher = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2021}, month = may, url = {https://www.foei.org/mainstreaming-biodiversity-proposal-is-dangerous-and-will-not-halt-its-collapse/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }