Briefing on opportunities for climate-biodiversity synergies across international agendas

The briefing argues that climate change and biodiversity loss are inextricably connected and recommends five key opportunities to align the CBD and UNFCCC agendas. These include developing specific indicators for the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), aligning National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), formalizing collaboration between the IPBES and IPCC, establishing a joint work program among the three Rio Conventions, and formalizing the role of CBD Action Agenda High-Level Champions.

• There are significant gaps in the GBF monitoring framework, specifically a lack of headline indicators for Target 8 (climate change and ocean acidification impacts on biodiversity) and Target 19(e) (optimizing finance synergies). The current binary indicator for Target 8 only partially covers the target's elements and fails to track biodiversity resilience.
• The timing of revised NBSAP submissions for COP16 and the upcoming NDCs for COP30 presents a critical window for national coordination. The document recommends that COP16 call for a 'whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach' to ensure these instruments are aligned during planning and implementation.
• Collaboration between the IPBES and IPCC has been largely informal and 'practically nonexistent' in a systematic sense. Despite efforts from the IPBES Secretariat, the IPCC has not provided a concrete response to engagement efforts, and neither body's current assessment cycles explicitly include work to fill knowledge gaps on climate-biodiversity synergies.
• Coordination among the three Rio Conventions (CBD, UNFCCC, and UNCCD) has historically been limited to secretariats and a Joint Liaison Group that has been less active since 2016. The briefing proposes a formal joint work programme to integrate national and international efforts, covering areas such as aligned NBSAPs, NDCs, and the protection of natural carbon reservoirs.
• The role of the CBD Action Agenda Champion for Nature and People, established in 2022, remains informal. Formalizing this role through a COP decision would mirror the UNFCCC's High-Level Champions and help catalyze action from non-state actors, including the private sector and sub-national governments.

APA

E., F. F., X., B.-T., & J.P., S. S. (2024). Briefing on opportunities for climate-biodiversity synergies across international agendas. Transforma. https://transforma.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Briefing-on-opportunities-for-climate-biodiversity-synergies-across-international-agendas.pdf

Chicago

E., Fernández Fernández,, Bénard-Tertrais, X., and Sierra Suárez, J.P. Briefing on opportunities for climate-biodiversity synergies across international agendas. Transforma, 2024. https://transforma.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Briefing-on-opportunities-for-climate-biodiversity-synergies-across-international-agendas.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=E. |first1=Fernández Fernández, |last2=X. |first2=Bénard-Tertrais, |last3=J.P. |first3=Sierra Suárez, |title=Briefing on opportunities for climate-biodiversity synergies across international agendas |publisher=Transforma |date=2024 |url=https://transforma.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Briefing-on-opportunities-for-climate-biodiversity-synergies-across-international-agendas.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{e2024briefing, author = {E., Fernández Fernández, and X., Bénard-Tertrais, and J.P., Sierra Suárez,}, title = {{Briefing on opportunities for climate-biodiversity synergies across international agendas}}, institution = {Transforma}, year = {2024}, url = {https://transforma.global/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Briefing-on-opportunities-for-climate-biodiversity-synergies-across-international-agendas.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }