After two long weeks of deliberations, countries finally reached a consensus on resource mobilisation by midnight on Friday, the final day of the 11th conference of parties (CoP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The parties have agreed to a ‘Hyderabad Roadmap’ that envisages doubling of the budget that developed countries need to raise for biodiversity conservation by 2015. Sources indicated that this would amount to roughly $12 billion. This target is to be calculated on a baseline of roughly $6 billion which is the average of the budgets earmarked by these parties between 2006-’10. This fund will be used to assist developing countries to meet their biodiversity targets.
There was also some consensus on 75% of the developing countries integrating biodiversity conservation into their national agenda. An exception was, however, made for the least developed countries. These agreements will be legally adopted once passed by the plenary which had yet to do so at the time of going to press. With the group deciding on the CBD budget in talks till well past midnight, a clear picture as to the budget (Financial Resources) is expected on Saturday.
However, early in the day on Friday, it had appeared unlikely that the parties would manage to reach common ground on the issue of resource mobilisation. In fact, the high-level delegates who were part of the closed door meeting on funds pointed at a serious disagreement between the developed and developing nations and had even suggested that reaching an agreement by the end of the deadline seemed “highly improbable”.
The focal point of the debate was the setting of a domestic baseline (how much should be earmarked) by every member nation for biodiversity conservation as per CBD principles. An agreement on just how much developed countries should contribute towards assisting developing nations in the implementation of their ‘Aichi Targets’ (on protection and conservation) also saw no progress. Citing the economic crisis looming large over nations across the globe, developed countries maintained it was impossible to commit to an approximate figure.
That the matter had hit a roadblock was evident at the initial proceedings of the plenary, on since 3.30pm on Friday. The meet clearly indicated a rift between developing and developed nations on the issue of resources as document L-28 (on review of progress on implementation of national biodiversity strategies and action plans and related capacity-building support to parties) came up for adoption on the floor of the house.
While developed nations, including the European Union, Switzerland and Australia, blatantly refused to “immediately implement” their commitments as per Article 20 of the CBD until a final verdict on Financial Resources (being discussed at the closed-door meet) was out, the developing nations felt otherwise.
In their plea to the chair, presided over by MoEF minister Jayanthi Natarajan, this other grouping (comprising China, Somalia and Malaysia among others) sought a settlement on this clause with minor amendments. They suggested the deletion of the word “immediate” from the document so as to help the parties arrive at a compromise.
“We have had too many square brackets (objections). It is, therefore, best that we re-word this part and settle the issue,” the representative from China said. His request, however, failed to break the stalemate. Article 20 of CBD primarily calls for developed nations to provide financial support to developing countries so that they can fulfill their obligations and also meet their targets on biodiversity conservation.
“We shall keep the document aside and take it up at a later stage,” Natarajan said during the preliminary session that lasted till 6pm. But while the plenary was expected to reconvene at 7.30pm to finally settle the budgetary issue, it failed to resume session before 11pm. According to observers at the conference, the delay only indicated serious disagreement among the parties on resource mobilisation. Some were even overheard claiming that the discussions might well be put in cold storage for now and revived at the next conference of parties, in 2014.As to India’s outlook on the issue, an official in the Union environment ministry, said, “We are hopeful that the monetary allotment would be doubled (from $6 billion to $12 billion) this time”.
“There has already been a four-hour delay. It shows how serious the differences are between members,” said a participant. He, however, was hopeful of some consensus by the end of the meet. “There will at least be some interim commitments. India has to get members to agree to that only to save face. If the matter seems unfinished, this CoP will be considered a failure. India will try hard to avoid such a situation,” the observer added.
Meanwhile, Republic of Korea was unanimously selected to be the chair for CoP-12. It may be recalled that the country had on Day I of the plenary submitted a request to play host to the next edition of the high-level summit. Welcoming the decision of the house, the representative from Korea thanked the current president (India) and all other delegates for the opportunity. The nation even hosted a reception at the end of the first plenary session to mark its official appointment as the chair of CoP-12.
India, too, had cause for cheer when representatives from European Union suggested that a paragraph be included in the main document of CoP-11 acknowledging the incredible hospitality provided by the country and the city of Hyderabad.
The EU representatives congratulated India for a successful show as president of the convention. Among the 193 countries expected to turn up for the convention, the MoEF minister confirmed that 173 had sent delegations to the meet.
2012 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.