Press Release

October 19, 2021
  • Nature & Parks

Results of the first part of the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15), the 10th Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol, and the 4th Meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol

(October 19, 2021, Tokyo) Environment Minister YAMAGUCHI Tsuyoshi, Japan, participated virtually in the high-level segment of the first part of the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), held in Kunming, China, from October 11 to October 15, 2021. During the high-level segment, nine heads of state and 99 ministers expressed their commitments and efforts on biodiversity, and the Kunming Declaration was adopted to express their commitment to adopt the post-2020 global biodiversity framework in the second part of COP15 in spring 2022. Furthermore, the budget of the Convention for 2022 was discussed in the first part of COP15, and two decisions (including the report of the meeting) were adopted.

Speech by Minister YAMAGUCHI Tsuyoshi:

Environment Minister Yamaguchi made the following speech to express Japan's two commitments.

  1. Expectations for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework

  • Adoption of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework is necessary to halt and reverse the trend of biodiversity loss.

  • As elements to be included in the framework, Minister Yamaguchi pointed out the importance of the target to conserve or protect 30% of terrestrial and marine areas by 2030 (30 by 30), Nature-Based Solutions, and the PDCA cycle.

2. Japan's Commitment

  • Japan has already started to consider its next National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) in order to take immediate action after the adoption of the new framework.

  • As the second phase of the Japan Biodiversity Fund (JBF), Japan is planning to provide support for developing countries based on the new framework totaling 1.8 billion yen (17 million US dollars).

    The first part of COP15:

    In the first part of COP15, discussion and a decision were made on the operation of the Convention and the interim budget for 2022. This conference also served as the first part of the 10th meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol (CP-MOP10) and the 4th meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol (NP-MOP4), and the budgets for these protocols were also discussed and decided.

    Approximately 2,500 delegates, including parties and regions, international organizations related to biodiversity such as the United Nations Environment Programme, indigenous people and local communities' representatives, and civil society organizations, participated in the first part of COP15 online, and approximately 2,900 people participated in person (participants registered with the Convention Secretariat).

    Next and subsequent meetings:

    The second parts of COP15, CP-MOP10, and NP-MOP4 are scheduled to be held in Kunming, China, from April 25 to May 8, 2022.

    Long-Term Vision by 2050 and the post-2020 global biodiversity framework:

    The 10th Conference of the Parties (COP10) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) held in October 2010 adopted the "Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Targets" as global goals. In addition, a world "Living in Harmony with Nature" was presented as the long-term vision to be achieved by 2050. It has been included in the draft of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework as the 2050 Vision.

    1st draft of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework (Japanese and English):

    http://www.biodic.go.jp/biodiversity/about/treaty/post2020gbf.html

    Japan Biodiversity Fund (JBF):

    The Japan Biodiversity Fund (JBF) is a five-billion-yen (60 million US dollars) fund established within the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) with the contribution of the Government of Japan on the occasion of COP10, for developing countries on the implementation of the Aichi Targets. Through this fund, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has promoted support in a wide range of areas, such as the revision of the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) of developing countries, support for youth, promotion of the Satoyama Initiative, measures for protected areas, oceans and invasive alien species, and support for the implementations of the Cartagena and Nagoya Protocols.

    Attachments:

    (1) Full text of the speech by Environment Minister Yamaguchi at the high-level segment of COP15 Part I (English)

    (2) Same as above (Japanese)

    (3) Kunming Declaration (English and Japanese)

    Please refer to the following URL for the Attachments:URL: https://www.env.go.jp/press/110106.html

For Japanese