Biodiversity still in state of emergency

The CBD Alliance describes biodiversity as being in a "state of emergency" and criticizes COP 13 for prioritizing business interests, financial gains, and trade over ecological protection. The statement highlights failures in risk assessment for synthetic biology, the promotion of unsustainable agriculture and tourism, and the marginalization of indigenous peoples and developing country delegations.

• The CBD Alliance argues that 'mainstreaming' biodiversity is being used to integrate business interests, such as profit and resource access, into the Convention rather than ensuring all sectors include biodiversity in decision-making.
• The document criticizes the promotion of intensified agriculture based on large-scale monocultures and chemical inputs, as well as the promotion of tourism and eco-tourism, which the Alliance claims negatively impacts biodiversity and indigenous cultures.
• While the Alliance welcomes the recognition of the right to Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) for indigenous peoples, it notes that these communities face human rights violations and militarization of sacred lands due to threats like mining and mega-infrastructure.
• The Alliance expresses concern over the lack of a high common denominator for biosafety, stating that prioritizing trade and financial interests means new risk assessment guidance for living modified organisms (LMOs), synthetic biology, or GM fish may not be available for four years.
• The document notes a failure in the implementation of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), stating that only half of the Parties have actually established them.
• The CBD Alliance welcomes the reaffirmation of the moratorium on climate-related geoengineering, rejecting claims that such technologies are necessary to meet the Paris agreement.

APA

admin (2016). Biodiversity still in state of emergency. Friends of the Earth International. https://www.foei.org/biodiversity-still-in-state-of-emergency/

Chicago

admin. Biodiversity still in state of emergency. Friends of the Earth International, 2016. https://www.foei.org/biodiversity-still-in-state-of-emergency/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=admin |title=Biodiversity still in state of emergency |publisher=Friends of the Earth International |date=19 December 2016 |url=https://www.foei.org/biodiversity-still-in-state-of-emergency/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{admin2016biodiversity, author = {admin}, title = {{Biodiversity still in state of emergency}}, publisher = {Friends of the Earth International}, year = {2016}, month = dec, url = {https://www.foei.org/biodiversity-still-in-state-of-emergency/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }