Faith communities celebrate a global deal to protect nature while calling for governments and civil society to ratchet up ambition
Montréal, Canada - Faiths at COP15, a coalition of faith-based organizations and conservation groups, celebrate the adoption of the COP15 package deal, including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), that calls for urgent action to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.
The GBF aims to protect and restore at least 30% of Earth’s land and water by 2030, as well as reduce our ecological footprint, half the risks of pesticides, and eliminate or repurpose harmful subsidies.
Some aspects of the GBF are not as ambitious as the coalition would have hoped, including that the ratcheting mechanism is voluntary, that there are no mandatory reporting requirements for businesses, and that biodiversity offsets are included.
Significantly, however, the Framework recognizes the contributions and rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, the role of women and girls, and children and youth, as well as the need for a whole of society, participatory, and inclusive approach when taking action to protect biodiversity.
“The Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework has the potential to create transformative action and contribute to the fulfillment of the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment for all,” said Alexandra Goossens-Ishii, Programme Coordinator for Climate & Environment Advocacy for Soka Gakkai International and policy lead for Faiths at COP15. “The GBF also recognizes the relevance of implementing the Framework through a rights-based approach”
COP15 was the first time in CBD history that a coalition of faith-based organizations representing every major religious tradition participated in a conference. Over 25 organizations participated in the proceedings in Montréal and over 50 organizations endorsed recommendations to the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, which included advocating for an ambitious, right-based framework.
“It's been beautiful to watch life grow and flourish within our coalition,” said Amy Echeverria, International Coordinator for Justice, Peace, and Ecology for the Missionary Society of St. Columban and co-convener of Faiths at COP15. “Faith traditions have the ability to help negotiators open up their hearts to the profound existential crisis our planet is in, as well as the moral responsibility each of us has. Especially in these kinds of conversations that are very technical and political, faiths lift up our connection to nature from the heart.”
Faiths at COP15 will continue to stay involved in the work of the CBD, especially by helping to translate the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework into language consonant with faith communities and invite more of them into the work of the convention.
“Now that we have the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the work to implement it begins,” said Gopal Patel, Co-Founder and Director of Bhumi Global and co-convener of Faiths at COP15. “Given the immense potential of faith communities to mobilize people at local levels, we are uniquely positioned to play a leading role in creating a nature positive world where all life flourishes.”
To learn more about Faiths at COP15, please visit our website. To learn more about our evaluation of COP15 and Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework, please watch the recording of our press conference.
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For more information or to schedule interviews
Contact: Wesley Cocozello, Communications Lead for Faiths at COP15
Email: wcocozello@columban.org