Fourth GBF negotiation round to start in Nairobi, Kenya

The fourth and last meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group (WG2020-4) on the Post-2020 Global Diversity Framework (GBF) will take place in Nairobi, Kenya from June 21 to 26. The Post-2020 Framework will define targets and pathways for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity over the next decade and beyond. Across regions, challenges to conservation and biodiversity are rapidly mounting. The new Framework is an opportunity to stop and reverse the current catastrophic trends in biodiversity loss.

Parties will continue negotiations on the GBF, drawing on recommendations from previous meetings, the reports from SBI-3 and SBSTTA-24, and the outcomes of relevant intersessional processes. Several sessions of particular interest to gene drive are yet to be confirmed, but discussions on Targets 6 (invasive alien species), 17 (biotechnology), and 20 (knowledge) are expected to take place on June 22, 23, and 24.

The text after the Geneva meetings (WG2020-3) features some notable advancements for the research and development of biotechnology. The need for innovation is now recognized under Target 6, which stresses the need for novel tools to eradicate and manage invasive alien species (IAS). The text also singles out islands amongst priority sites. Islands represent the greatest concentration of both biodiversity and species extinctions, and IAS are implicated in 86% of these extinctions.

Target 17 (biotechnology) now contains language under brackets acknowledging that biotechnology can contribute positively to environmental conservation and health. Another positive outcome is the split of Target 19 into two parts, giving more visibility to non-financial means of implementation. Target 19.2 further openly acknowledges the need to promote innovation together with capacity building, technology transfer, and technical and scientific cooperation.

However, the role of innovation and scientific research remains underestimated in the new Framework. Goal D (means of implementation) and Section H (implementation of support mechanisms) mention capacity-building, technology transfer, and scientific cooperation as vital components to support the implementation of the new Framework, but not the need for research and development of novel tools. Without openly acknowledging the importance of these elements, Parties may underestimate their relevance and the need for resources dedicated to them.

While useful, existing tools have not been sufficient to address the current global conservation crisis. The Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework has the potential to shape a future in which science and technology can safely contribute to conservation efforts. If we are to properly address this crisis, we must remember that science is not only a tool for monitoring but can also be a part of the solution. Let us act in the name of nature and leave no stone unturned in the struggle to restore our earth.