Ideas from the Speakers
The experts evaluated the importance of protecting biodiversity through data collection. They proposed the use of harmonized data to develop a standardized framework for assessing biodiversity by 2026, when the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 17) will take place in Armenia.
Fundamental agreements from the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) were explored, such as emphasizing the “30x30” target, which commits nations to protecting 30% of global biodiversity by 2030. Another initiative engages the private sector and local Indigenous communities to collect data and build biodiversity frameworks. Encouraging the private sector to adopt transparency and financial accountability strategies for building trust and collaboration among stakeholders will contribute to filling the gaps in national ecosystem monitoring. The vision for the GBF is to provide a framework to contribute to protecting the global ecosystem.
The participants underscored the lack of a standardized framework for assessing and disclosing natural capital. Organizations working independently and relying on diverse metrics and datasets make it difficult to communicate with important stakeholders on the biodiversity framework, thus reflecting a pressing need for data harmonization. To highlight the importance of recognizing ecosystem limits and data constraints in achieving conservation goals by 2030, a helpful and clever metaphor was shared: before deciding whether a glass is half full or half empty, it’s necessary first to understand its capacity.
The speakers called for a collaborative global effort and invited the participants to join the conversation and help find solutions to challenges such as limited data access. They also stressed the need to involve the private sector and governments in developing a transparent financial approach.
Insights from the Audience
The discussion focused on ways in which the public could contribute to the targets that commit governments to the Paris Agreement, the legally binding international treaty on climate change. One approach is to involve businesses and corporations worldwide in understanding their environmental impact and aligning with Target 15 of the GBF, which aims to introduce legal and policy measures to engage businesses and financial institutions by 2030. A key insight connected to the Science Based Targets Network highlighted how business stakeholders are setting and implementing targets that contribute to the GBF. Engagement is critical to move from measuring biodiversity to taking action, as highlighted by the importance of seeking solutions to preserve 70% of global ecosystems and biodiversity to achieve the goal of protecting 30% by 2030.
Consequently, nature-positive initiatives should be accessible for all stakeholders, ensuring inclusive participation in biodiversity protection. Setting clear targets could create expectations that guide the identification of key metrics, ultimately increasing the quality of the data input needed for ecosystem intervention or protection. In addition, data for these initiatives should go beyond global datasets, as local data is important for companies whose goals rely on detailed, location-specific information.
Another concern is the complexity of biodiversity data and the limited sources of data collected to fill the information gaps around the world, as companies often struggle to measure the impact of biodiversity due to inconsistent data. Great disparity exists between narrowing down data to make it easier to understand and communicate, and prioritizing mega data and metrics to analyze them in depth. This discussion led to questions about investing and to the importance of data collection, and whether the focus should be on small- or large-scale data collection. For certain decisions, using a combination of local data and specific metrics is more efficient than relying on global-scale comparisons.
Improving communication between organizations, businesses, and policymakers is urgently needed. Given the challenges we face, it is important to create space for open and active listening. Simplifying the approach and changing the focus from barriers to practical action is essential to make meaningful progress.
