The 15th Conference of Parties (COP 15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is a major milestone in global biodiversity conservation. This global gathering in 2020 in Kunming, China, will define the global biodiversity framework for 2020-2030 and set detailed targets to guide global conservation efforts. China is playing a multi-faceted role at COP 15, as a host and as an emerging power that can potentially wield more influence in global environmental governance.
Working in partnership with the Nature Conservancy and Cornell University as well as many other international organizations and experts, this project aims to inform the CBD COP 15 negotiations and the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework on financial targets and conservation financing mechanisms.
We are working with the Nature Conservancy and Cornell University to conduct extensive research to make a compelling economic case for protecting and investing in biodiversity, survey the current landscape of global conservation financing (including funding needs, existing flows, and gaps), identify and articulate feasible financing mechanisms that can be scaled up to meet the funding needs, and make a suite a recommendations for both governments and the private sector to help close the funding gap. The research will culminate in a report and a series of high-profile events where the key findings and recommendations from the research will be shared with negotiators, finance ministers, business leaders, investors, and representatives from the philanthropic community.