VU Amsterdam and PBL present a new policy brief at CBD COP17, exploring distributive justice, shared responsibilities, and long-term action to achieve global biodiversity goals.
Who should take responsibility for achieving global biodiversity goals, and how can the efforts and costs be distributed fairly? These questions were at the centre of a side event at CBD COP17, where Ina Lehmann from the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) presented findings from a new international policy brief.
On 23 October, the Institute for Environmental Studies (IVM) and the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) organised a side event at CBD COP17 to present the policy brief Play the Long Game: Aligning National and International Policies for Nature and People with the Long-term Goals of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
Developed in collaboration with PBL, IDDRI, IVM, and Radboud University, the report explores distributive justice in global biodiversity governance. It examines how different understandings of fairness and responsibility are reflected in countries' National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and national targets under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Why biodiversity action must go beyond 2030
The policy brief highlights an important challenge: while implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework's 2030 targets could significantly improve biodiversity, these gains may decline after 2030 as climate change and other environmental pressures continue to increase.
The analysis also identifies a gap between the collective ambitions expressed in countries' national targets and the global ambitions of the 2030 framework.
Achieving the 2050 biodiversity goals will therefore require more ambitious, long-term action that goes beyond conservation and restoration. This includes addressing the underlying drivers of biodiversity loss through changes in production and consumption systems.
To strengthen long-term biodiversity governance, the report identifies three priorities:
- Strengthening whole-of-government approaches to address the direct and indirect drivers of biodiversity loss through long-term transition pathways.
- Engaging non-state actors, particularly those leading efforts to advance biodiversity-friendly transitions.
- Encouraging international dialogue on justice, including how responsibilities and contributions towards the 2050 goals should be shared among countries.
Bringing justice into international biodiversity discussions
During the side event, Ina Lehmann presented the report's key messages, followed by reflections from Josefa Isabel Tauli, Joanna Miller Smallwood, and Christian Prip.
Their contributions explored the implications of the findings for intergenerational justice, justice for nature, and the practical challenges of multilateral biodiversity negotiations.
A discussion moderated by Marcel Kok brought together panellists and audience members to reflect on the role of justice in ongoing negotiations.
One central message emerged: creating spaces for meaningful dialogue on justice is essential for the long-term success of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Such conversations may require negotiators and observers to move beyond established perspectives and engage with challenging questions about responsibility, fairness, and collective action.
Connecting research, policy, and societal impact
The contribution of Ina Lehmann and IVM highlights the importance of connecting scientific research with international policymaking. By examining both the environmental effectiveness and fairness of biodiversity commitments, this collaboration provides insights that can inform future negotiations and long-term strategies for global biodiversity recovery.
For the Amsterdam Sustainability Institute (ASI), this work illustrates the value of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing complex sustainability challenges and bringing research-based perspectives into international policy discussions.
The policy brief offers a foundation for continued dialogue on how countries and other actors can work towards a more effective and equitable approach to biodiversity protection beyond 2030.
Read the policy brief: Play the Long Game