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The document argues that the Global Biodiversity Framework must be based on binding norms rather than voluntary commitments and must address the structural economic drivers of biodiversity loss. It advocates for a rights-based approach that protects indigenous peoples and environmental defenders, the elimination of harmful subsidies, and the prohibition of high-impact industrial activities like deep-sea mining and Arctic oil extraction. The text explicitly rejects the commodification of nature, biodiversity offsets, and the use of geoengineering or synthetic biology as solutions to the environmental crisis.

The document provides a comprehensive guide for the Global Biodiversity Framework, emphasizing the need for binding rules over voluntary commitments and the integration of human rights, especially for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. It argues that biodiversity loss is driven by the current economic system and unsustainable consumption, calling for a 'Whole Government Approach' to integrate biodiversity across all sectors. Key recommendations include the elimination of harmful subsidies for industrial farming and aquaculture, the prohibition of high-risk technologies like geoengineering, and the rejection of biodiversity offsetting and market-based solutions. The text stresses that conservation must prioritize existing habitats and be supported by public funding, particularly from developed nations to developing ones.

Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) provides a detailed critique and set of proposals to amend the first draft of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. FoEI argues for more ambitious targets, such as increasing the goal for ecosystem area gain from 15% to 20% and reducing invasive species introduction by 90% instead of 50%. The organization emphasizes the need to halt biodiversity loss entirely rather than just slowing its rate, and advocates for the explicit inclusion of human rights, the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs), and the phasing out of highly hazardous pesticides. FoEI also proposes a new 'Goal E' focused on a comprehensive implementation mechanism and suggests that financial resources for biodiversity should be significantly increased, citing a need to address 4-6 trillion USD in harmful incentives.

The New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) is a global political framework adopted in 2014 and refreshed in 2021. It aims to halt natural forest loss by 2030 and restore 350 million hectares of degraded landscapes. The declaration identifies the conversion of forests for agricultural commodities—specifically soy, palm oil, beef, and paper—as accounting for approximately half of global deforestation. The NYDF asserts that achieving its goals could provide over 7 billion tons (CO2e) of cost-effective climate change mitigation annually by 2030, emphasizing the necessity of centering Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in these solutions.

The New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) is a commitment to end natural forest loss and degradation by 2030 and restore 350 million hectares of forest landscapes. The declaration identifies agricultural commodities, infrastructure, and mining as primary drivers of deforestation and emphasizes the central role of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in forest protection. Achieving these goals is framed as a cost-effective climate solution capable of mitigating over 7 billion tonnes of CO2e annually by 2030, supporting the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C warming limit.

The New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) is a statement of commitment to end the loss and degradation of natural forests by 2030. It identifies the conversion of forests for agricultural commodities—specifically soy, palm oil, beef, and paper—as accounting for roughly half of global deforestation. The declaration sets goals to eliminate deforestation from agricultural production, reduce impacts from infrastructure and extractive industries, and restore 350 million hectares of landscapes and forestlands by 2030. It emphasizes the central role of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in forest protection and aims to reduce emissions in alignment with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C warming limit, potentially mitigating over 7 billion tons (CO2e) per year by 2030.

The document outlines the objectives of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDf), noting that the 2020 goal to halve deforestation was not met. It identifies key drivers of forest loss, including agricultural commodities and extractive industries, while highlighting the role of financial institutions and the importance of indigenous peoples in forest conservation. Despite challenges, it notes progress through the Paris Agreement and demand-side measures in major consumer markets.

The document outlines the objectives of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDf), noting that the 2020 target to halve deforestation was not met. It identifies drivers of forest loss, such as global commodity demand and extractive industries, while highlighting the role of financial institutions and the necessity of empowering Indigenous peoples and local communities to achieve climate solutions.

The New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) establishes a framework for global action to end natural forest loss and degradation by 2030. It identifies commodity-driven deforestation as a primary driver and emphasizes the central role of indigenous peoples and local communities in forest protection. The declaration sets specific targets for the private sector to eliminate deforestation from commodity production and aims to restore 350 million hectares of degraded landscapes. Achieving these goals is presented as a critical component of limiting global warming to 1.5°C, with a potential mitigation impact of over 7 billion tonnes of CO2e per year by 2030.

The world is off track to meet 2025 and 2030 forest goals, with commodity-driven deforestation increasing by 5.6% in 2022. While some leading agricultural companies and governments (notably the EU) are taking action, overall impact is limited by low political priority, insufficient corporate transparency in extractives, and systemic risks to environmental defenders.

The world is off track to meet 2025 and 2030 forest goals, with commodity-driven deforestation increasing by 5.6% in 2022. While some leading agricultural companies and EU regulations show progress, most governments deprioritize forests in macroeconomic planning, and the mining sector lacks transparency. Indigenous Peoples and local communities have increased international awareness but face severe violence and funding gaps. Collaborative jurisdictional efforts are emerging but remain in early stages.

The GCF's Environmental and Social Policy defines the requirements for accredited entities to identify, assess, and mitigate environmental and social risks. It mandates a risk-based approach using Environmental and Social Safeguards (SAS), a mitigation hierarchy, and rigorous due diligence. The policy emphasizes the protection of vulnerable groups, indigenous peoples, and biodiversity, while requiring transparent information disclosure and the establishment of grievance redress mechanisms at the activity, entity, and fund levels.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) employs an Environment and Social Management System to ensure climate finance does not cause harm to local communities or the environment. This system is anchored by the Environmental and Social Policy and the Indigenous Peoples Policy, adopted in February 2018. GCF requires Accredited Entities to implement their own management systems and undergo evaluation to mitigate risks. To address grievances, the GCF provides an Independent Redress Mechanism (IRM) and requires project-level grievance redress mechanisms.

The GCF Environmental and Social Policy defines the requirements for Accredited Entities to manage environmental and social risks through a systematic Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS). It outlines a risk-based approach to project classification (Categories A, B, and C), mandates due diligence and impact assessments, and establishes guidelines for stakeholder engagement, information disclosure, and grievance redress mechanisms. The policy emphasizes the protection of indigenous peoples, human rights, and biodiversity, while ensuring gender equality and non-discrimination in all climate-funded activities.

The GCF Indigenous Peoples Policy provides a framework for the protection of indigenous rights in climate finance activities. It mandates 'meaningful consultation' and, in specific high-impact cases, 'Free, Prior and Informed Consent' (FPIC). The policy applies to all GCF-funded activities, regardless of whether a national government legally recognizes the indigenous status of the affected groups. It outlines roles for Accredited Entities to manage risks and requires the establishment of culturally appropriate grievance mechanisms. The GCF also commits to capacity building for indigenous peoples and the creation of an Indigenous Peoples Advisory Group to oversee implementation.

Global Witness calls for CBD COP16 to transition the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) into actionable plans. The organization advocates for the protection and participation of land and environmental defenders, the implementation of mandatory regulations to end harmful financial flows driving deforestation, and the establishment of responsible mining standards and 'no-go zones' in biodiversity hotspots to ensure the energy transition does not undermine nature.

The document provides an overview of the UN's COP process, detailing the outcomes of COP29 and the objectives for COP30 in Belém, Brazil. It highlights the tension between urgent climate action—such as the 'Baku to Belem Roadmap' to raise $1.3 trillion in climate finance and the submission of updated National Determined Contributions (NDCs)—and the influence of fossil fuel lobbyists and petrostates. The guide specifically critiques the role of industry lobbyists at recent summits and notes the contradiction of Brazil's presidency given its plans to expand oil and gas production by 20% by 2030.

Global Witness characterizes COP27 as a failure, primarily because world leaders did not agree to phase out fossil fuels despite the presence of 636 fossil fuel lobbyists. While the organization acknowledges the historic adoption of a loss and damage fund and the inclusion of the right to a healthy environment in the cover decision, it criticizes the lack of tangible progress on deforestation and the failure to specifically acknowledge the contributions of land and environmental defenders.

Global Witness calls for an ambitious Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) to hold EU companies accountable for environmental and human rights harms. The brief highlights a $15 billion airport project in the Philippines involving Dutch companies that resulted in mangrove destruction and family displacements. It recommends that the EU include comprehensive definitions of environmental harm, mandatory scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions due diligence, and the incorporation of international standards like the Paris Agreement and the Ramsar Convention.

The LEAD coalition, supported by Global Witness and over 100 organisations, has proposed a set of rights-based recommendations for the COP30 Host Country Agreement (HCA). These proposals aim to safeguard civic space, ensure unrestricted observer access, and protect frontline climate defenders from retaliation and surveillance during the event in Belém, Brazil.