.png)
Living in Harmony with Nature - Road to Vision 2050
- Karthika Duraisamy Sekar
- Sep 9
- 5 min read
Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth at all levels and forms from genes and species to ecosystems. Human civilisation depends on its resources and services for its survival and well-being ranging from basic needs such as clean air, water, and food to cultural and recreational activities. Well-functioning ecosystems form the foundation of a healthy planet, even acting as climate regulators.
However we have been extracting the resources at a rapid rate threatening biodiversity and in turn our existence. Biodiversity loss affects our health, jobs, supply chains and food production, slowing down economic growth and eventually leading to migration and conflicts in some regions. It is difficult to estimate the actual value of the ecosystem services, most of which has always been considered free such as wetlands that act as natural water filtration systems. But its disruption can cause a significant economic loss affecting primarily agriculture, fisheries and healthcare.
75% of global food crops rely on pollinators - decline in pollinators such as bees can impact the agricultural yield and food security.
Healthy ecosystems provide 75% of global freshwater resources, with wetlands playing a key role in water purification. However, since 1970, 35% of wetlands have been lost.
Over 50% of modern medicines are derived from natural sources.
Forests store 80% of terrestrial biodiversity, absorbing approximately 2.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.
The five direct drivers of biodiversity loss are changes in land and sea use, direct exploitation of organisms, climate change, pollution, and invasion of alien species.
Nearly 420 million hectares of forests have been lost worldwide since 1990.
Climate change is endangering one in six species globally. It also jeopardises ecosystems that serve as vital carbon stores and are crucial for meeting climate mitigation targets.
Invasive species, introduced by human activity, can disrupt local ecosystems, displace native species, and significantly affect the economy, the environment, and public health. They play a key role in 60% of global plant and animal extinctions, leading to global economic costs exceeding $423 billion annually in 2019.
Convention on Biological Diversity
The Convention on Biological Diversity was adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992 to address threats to biodiversity through a whole-of-society approach. The three objectives of the convention are:
The conservation of biological diversity.
The sustainable use of the components of biological diversity.
The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.
The Conference of Parties (COP) for the convention is held once in two years to track progress and negotiate measures. The seventeenth COP is scheduled in 2026 in Yerevan, Armenia.
Major Agreements
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (entered into force in 2003) - focuses on governing living modified organisms (LMOs), their transboundary movements and its risks on biodiversity. A Biosafety Clearing-House was established as a key tool to facilitate exchange of information on LMOs and the implementation of the protocol.
Nagoya protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing (entered into force in 2014) - aims at equitable sharing of benefits from utilisation of genetic resources.
Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted at COP15 in 2022 with four long term goals for 2050 and 23 targets for 2030. It was built on the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity, 2011-2020 as an action and results-oriented framework.
The vision of the framework is a world of living in harmony with nature where: “By 2050, biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet, and delivering benefits essential for all people.”
Long-term goals
Increase the area of natural ecosystems by 2050, stop human induced extinction, and increase the abundance of native wild species to maintain genetic diversity.
Sustainable use of biodiversity and restoration efforts.
Fair and equitable sharing of monetary and non-monetary benefits from the use of genetic resources and digital sequence information on genetic resources;protect traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources.
Equitable access to financial resources, capacity building, technology transfer and technical and scientific corporation. Close the biodiversity finance gap of $700 billion per year.
Targets
The 23 targets require immediate action and completion by 2030 in accordance with the convention and its protocols to achieve the 2050 goals. They focus on reducing the threats to biodiversity, sustainable use and benefit-sharing of nature’s resources as well as tools and solutions for implementation and mainstreaming.
Outcome of COP 16, Colombia
The recent COP at Cali, Columbia in 2024 was the first COP after the milestone Kunming Montreal protocol was adopted. Although the parties were expected to show National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), only 44 countries submitted the plan before COP16. Some of the outcomes include:
Role of indigenous people and local communities - new program of work was adopted to ensure their meaningful participation.
Cali fund - one of the major achievements of COP16 was the launch of Cali fund, a global fund built with a percentage of profits or revenues of entities benefiting commercially from the use of digital sequence information (DSI) on genetic resources. The fund is expected to support developing countries and indigenous communities.
Synthetic biology - although Synthetic biology has its risks, COP16 looked at how the benefits would align with the CBD’s three objectives. It was also decided that the developing countries, indigenous and local communities that are not involved in this field will be provided knowledge and support.
Invasive alien species - COP16 proposed guidelines to manage invasive alien species which includes new databases, cross-border trade regulations, and enhanced coordination.
Biodiversity and health - a global action plan to curb the emergence of zoonotic diseases, prevent non-communicable diseases, and promote sustainable ecosystems was approved at Cali. Biodiversity and health are interconnected with common catalysts for several problems such as climate change. The plan calls for collaboration across a wide range of stakeholders including health professionals and conservationists.
Living Modified Organisms - A voluntary guidance for managing LMOs and its environmental impacts was introduced for individual countries to take informed decisions on the application of LMOs with engineered gene drives.
Fundamental change for vision 2050
The ecosystem services do not just provide value in trillions annually, but also play a key role in regulating the climate and making this planet habitable. While freely taking nature’s services for our economic and social development, we continue to ignore its declining state and not consider it in our accounting systems. As we struggle to mobilise funds for conservation, we also keep funding activities that halt recovery such as deforestation and overfishing.
The path to 2050 demands a fundamental change in our relationship with nature. Our one sided extractive relationship with nature has to become a two sided regenerative partnership for a sustainable future. For example, nature-based solutions aid in ecosystem recovery in addition to supporting local communities and addressing climate mitigation and adaptation. Here we also see how nature and climate are intertwined underscoring the need to bring them in the same conversation.
The roots of biodiversity loss cannot be local in the global era - deforestation for palm oil plantations in South East Asia can arise from demand of European consumer goods companies that are consumed globally. This means biodiversity should be considered at all levels from governing laws to corporate supply chains to individual choices.
The 2050 ambitious goals can be achieved through a massive mindset shift and a systemic transformation by considering nature as a partner.
Sources:
