EU-China Environment Project Advances Global Biodiversity Framework Implementation
Between 8 and 9 of July, Mr Anne-Theo Seinen, leader of the International Biodiversity Team of the Directorate-General for Environment (DG Environment) of the European Commission, visited Beijing.
During his visit, a workshop on the implementation of Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) took place in Beijing on 8 July. Attended by Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) negotiators, EU Member States and selected experts, the workshop provided an opportunity for European and Chinese biodiversity negotiators to exchange ideas in-person and enhance mutual understandings on key topics. The agenda included planning, monitoring, reporting, and review of national GBF implementation, the multi-year program of work, scientific gaps and needs for implementing the GBF, and an outlook to COP16 of the Convention of Biological Diversity.
On the same day [8 July], a training workshop engaging key stakeholders from financial institutions was also organised to raise awareness on the urgent need to leverage finance for nature protection. This workshop was opened by China’s lead negotiator for the CBD, Mr Liu Ning, and Mr Seinen of DG Environment. Both emphasised that biodiversity is a high priority for governments both in China and the EU and that the finance sector can share experiences across geographies, essential to ensure alignment between standards and best practices. This training covered matters such as mainstreaming biodiversity in public finance in the EU and China, setting ambition and pathways for resource mobilisation, taking environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations and the development of the emerging bio-credit market. The workshop emphasized the urgent need to secure financial flows for biodiversity protection and capacity building for key stakeholders.
European Union, 2024
Photo 1: Ambassador Toledo's opening remarks at the training in Hainan
European Union, 2024
Photo 2: Biodiversity policy experts interact with trainees at the training in Hainan
European Union, 2024
Photo 3: Biodiversity delegation meets with EU civil society actors in Brussels
European Union, 2024
European Union, 2024
Photo 4 & 5: Workshop on CBD negotiations and GBF implementation in Beijing on 8 July 2024
Background information
The EU-China Environment Project, funded by the EU Foreign Policy Instrument, supports cooperation between the EU and China on environmental policy, aiming to improve environmental protection standards and increase integration between the EU and China on environmental governance. Phase 1 of the project was implemented from January 2018 to June 2021, while Phase 2, running from July 2021 to December 2024, is currently ongoing. The project is implemented by a consortium including GOPA, the Policy Research Center for Environment and Economy (PRCEE) of China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and ClientEarth.
Over the past few months, the EU-China Environment Project, hosted a series of events to support the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The topic was identified as a priority area for EU-China environmental cooperation in the recent EU-China High-level Environment and Climate Dialogue (HECD), held in Brussels in June.
The series of activities addressed key issues under the GBF and facilitated learning and mutual exchange on priority areas, such as policy mainstreaming of biodiversity, biodiversity finance, and enhancing corporate ESG and disclosure concerning biodiversity. Stakeholders from both sides, including representatives from China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), DG Environment of the European Commission, the EU Delegation to China and others, joined the activities, contributed and discussed opportunities for more cooperation on this topic.
A Training Workshop on Biodiversity Finance and Mainstreaming to Support GBF Implementation was held on May 21-23 in Wuzhishan, Hainan Province, on the occasion of International Biodiversity Day. Selected experts in biodiversity policy and finance shared their knowledge on mechanisms for biodiversity finance and mainstreaming, biodiversity-related financial risk management, innovative approaches to financing nature protection, and the enhancement of ESG in relation to biodiversity and corporate transparency. The EU ambassador to China addressed the opening of the training, highlighting that green is the colour of EU-China cooperation. Local environmental officials and EU member states representatives, among other stakeholders joined the event and discussed approaches to further mobilize the finance sector to support GBF implementation.
In mid-June, immediately following the HECD, the EU-China Environment Project facilitated an official visit to Belgium and France from June 19-26 for a delegation of Chinese environmental officials at central and local levels. The delegation was led by China’s lead negotiator for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Mr Liu Ning, and provided an opportunity for face-to-face meetings between China’s environmental officials and the EU Commission and EU member states, to exchange the latest experience on biodiversity legislation and policies, as well as to prepare for a successful COP16 in Colombia in October.
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