UN Biodiversity

The #COP17 visual identity has been unveiled 🦋 Inspired by Polyommatus eriwanensis, a butterfly endemic to Armenia, the COP17 logo reflects resilience, renewal and collective action for biodiversity. Its vibrant colours echo the 23 targets of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, highlighting their interconnection and our shared responsibility to act. Alongside the logo, the host country has introduced the COP17 slogan: “Taking Action for Nature” — a call to move decisively from commitment to implementation, at a pivotal moment as the first Global Review of the KMGBF approaches. COP17 will take place in Yerevan, Armenia, from 19 to 30 October 2026. Explore the story behind the symbol and what it represents for COP17 and the global biodiversity agenda: https://lnkd.in/ecquZEZc #COP17Armenia #ForNature

Last week, experts from UN Biodiversity Parties, international organizations, major groups, civil society and academia gathered in Bergen, Norway, for an expert workshop convened by the CBD Secretariat, in cooperation with the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, to identify opportunities for scientific and technical work under the Convention to support the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ). The workshop was convened with financial support from the governments of Norway, Germany, Ireland and Sweden. Participants identified an ocean of opportunities across a wide range of thematic areas, including: 🌊 Area-based management tools and related scientific and technical information 🌊 Mainstreaming biodiversity considerations in sectoral activities 🌊 Capacity-building and knowledge-sharing, including through clearing-house mechanisms 🌊 Biodiversity monitoring Discussions highlighted the importance of work under the CBD (e.g. ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs), guidance on addressing pressures on marine ecosystems and the Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI) Global Dialogue) as essential to supporting robust management in ABNJ, including under the new BBNJ Agreement. The workshop also identified key areas of potential future work under the CBD. Meeting documents 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eq54G8ca Joe Appiott United Nations Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of The Sea (UNDOALOS), Klima- og miljødepartementet, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, Regeringskansliet, Klimat- och näringslivsdepartementet, Havs- och vattenmyndigheten

As countries meet at #UNEA7 against the backdrop of converging environmental crises, financing integrated solutions has become a central priority for international environmental governance. Tomorrow, UN Biodiversity Executive Secretary Astrid Schomaker will speak at a UNEA-7 MEAs side event focused on advancing coherent, multilateral responses through the Global Environment Facility. The Global Environment Facility plays a pivotal role in supporting the implementation of multilateral environmental agreements addressing biodiversity, chemicals, waste, and pollution. Pollution and biodiversity loss are deeply interconnected drivers of environmental and socio economic instability, affecting ecosystem resilience, human health, and sustainable development. Addressing these challenges together is essential to building a resilient, nature positive future. This discussion takes place at a critical moment, as negotiations are underway for the ninth replenishment of the GEF Trust Fund. With GEF-9 covering the remaining five years of implementation of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the replenishment cycle offers a unique opportunity to align financing with global biodiversity goals while integrating pollution and chemicals agendas. Building on the inaugural GEF–MEA Exchange held in 2025, the event will highlight how GEF-9 can support MEA implementation through integrated, cost effective, and transformative approaches. Discussions will focus on cross sectoral programming across biodiversity, climate, land degradation, chemicals, and pollution, innovative finance strategies, and ongoing GEF reforms that strengthen alignment with MEA priorities. 🕒 Tuesday, 9 December 2025 | 16:00–17:15 EAT 📍 UNEA-7 | Event Tent (Helipad next to MEA pavilion) 🔗 Event details: https://lnkd.in/eSmMjE-7 ▶️ Watch live: https://lnkd.in/eqWxCXep The exchange aims to promote cooperation, coherence, and collective advocacy in support of UNEA-7’s objectives to scale up integrated action and financing for a resilient, nature positive, and pollution free future. See our website for more side events: https://lnkd.in/eTTYGYCD Rolph Payet The Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Dr Musonda Mumba Convention on Wetlands Ivonne Higuero CITES Monika Stankiewicz Minamata Convention on Mercury Chizuru Aoki Amy Fraenkel Convention on Migratory Species (CMS)

At #UNEA7, Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) are coming together to explore how artificial intelligence can strengthen cooperation, implementation, and impact. This side event will examine how AI and digital innovation can be responsibly harnessed to support environmental governance and decision-making. The session will feature remarks from the Executive Secretary of UN Biodiversity, Astrid Schomaker, alongside an intervention by Asad Naqvi, Director of the Implementation Support Division. Discussions will focus on how AI-powered tools can enhance environmental monitoring, assessment, and policy support, while reinforcing the science–policy interface across MEAs. The event will also showcase innovative digital solutions developed by UN Environment Programme and MEAs, highlight the importance of the Global Environmental Data Strategy (GEDS), and consider capacity-building needs and governance frameworks to ensure equitable, transparent, and trusted use of AI in multilateral and national processes. 🕒 Tuesday, 9 December 2025 | 14:30–15:45 EAT 📍 UNEA-7 | MEA Event Tent 🔗 Event details: https://lnkd.in/d9USMzhs ▶️ Watch live: https://lnkd.in/deYuunTa Join the conversation on how data, technology, and cooperation can work together to advance effective environmental action. Elizabeth Mrema Golestan (Sally) Radwan Rolph Payet The Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Megumi Seki Nakamura Vienna Convention & Montreal Protocol (Ozone) Secretariat Monika Stankiewicz Minamata Convention on Mercury Tina Birmpili HARUKO OKUSU CITES Christopher Corbin UNEP - Cartagena Convention Secretariat and Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP)

The United Nations Environment Assembly (#UNEA7) will bring together environment ministers and leaders from around the world. For UN Biodiversity, this provides an important opportunity to reinforce the central role of biodiversity in global environmental governance. Biodiversity is fundamental to sustainable development, and addressing climate change, pollution, and land degradation. Solutions that integrate ecosystem health offer the most effective pathways for long-term outcomes. The #KMGBF provides a global roadmap to protect natural areas, restore ecosystems, and align financial flows with nature-positive outcomes by 2030. At UNEA-7, UN Biodiversity will highlight the importance of synergies across multilateral environmental agreements and integrated planning across sectors to support coordinated action across climate, land, and biodiversity agendas. Our Executive Secretary Astrid Schomaker will be attending the Assembly and sharing her reflections and insights on her accounts throughout the event, offering a closer look at UN Biodiversity’s work in action. As the final major global environmental event of 2025, UNEA-7 also marks a transition point. The year ahead will be defined by the three Rio Convention COPs — UN Climate Change, UN Convention to Combat Desertification, and UN Biodiversity — offering an unprecedented opportunity to strengthen synergies, align implementation efforts, and advance integrated solutions for climate, land, and biodiversity. UN Biodiversity will continue working closely with Parties and partners to ensure that the momentum built at UNEA carries forward into a coordinated year of global action. More information about UN Biodiversity’s participation at UNEA-7 can be found here 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eH_zpDcP. #UNBiodiversity #ForNature Asad Naqvi Jacopo Pasquero Lis Mullin Bernhardt

Healthy soils are at the foundation of resilient cities and thriving ecosystems. Far from being an inert substrate, soil is a complex and dynamic living system that hosts an estimated 59% of species worldwide (Anthony et al., 2023). Earthworms, springtails, ants, mycorrhizal fungi and nitrogen fixing bacteria are only a few examples of the extraordinary diversity that lives belowground. #SoilBiodiversity underpins essential ecosystem functions and services. These include soil contaminant reduction, erosion control, flood regulation, water purification and the regulation of diseases. Together, these processes support city health and strengthen the connection between people and nature. To improve human well being and build sustainable urban environments, soil biodiversity considerations must be fully integrated into urban planning. The Plan of Action (2020 to 2030) for the International Initiative for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Soil Biodiversity provides a coordinated pathway to protect and restore soil biodiversity. It supports implementation of the #KMGBF and contributes to healthier soils, healthier ecosystems and healthier communities. On #WorldSoilDay, let us work together to implement this Plan of Action and strengthen efforts that support soil, plant, animal, human and city health. Learn more about soil biodiversity 🔗  https://lnkd.in/ehb8eFk Read the Plan of Action 🔗  https://lnkd.in/eAqT-6Bh Video: FAO #HealthySoils #GreenCities

At the #FinanceForBiodiversity Summit on 4 December 2025 in Amsterdam, representatives of financial institutions and policymakers came together to chart pathways for a future where finance and nature thrive together for the benefit of all. This Summit was also a celebration of progress. Launched by the Finance for Biodiversity Foundation, the “Finance for Biodiversity Pledge” is boosting the implementation of Targets 14, 15 and 19 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (#KMGBF). It is doing so by leveraging the signatories’ voluntary commitments to decouple business models from the drivers of biodiversity loss across portfolios and value chains. Financial institutions around the globe are increasingly integrating nature-related risks, impacts, and opportunities into their decision-making processes. They are adopting natural capital approaches that recognize the value of ecosystems in economic and financial decisions. The Summit hosted stimulating reflections on the role of policy in unlocking the full potential of biodiversity finance and catalyzing innovation #ForNature. There were calls for fresh regulation and regulatory stability. Without clarity and reassurance from the policy side, financial institutions are left to negotiate a tightrope of uncertainty. The world needs a thriving financial sector that delivers for nature and for people and catalyzes pan-economy transformative change towards living in harmony with nature. At the Summit, we heard voices calling on everyone to press ahead: “advocate for regulation, but do not wait for it” and, while biodiversity data is sometimes limited, “there is enough data to act”. As we approach the first global review of collective progress in the implementation of the #KMGBF at #COP17Armenia, actors other than national governments, including financial institutions, are encouraged to lodge their commitments into the Online Reporting Tool maintained by UN Biodiversity: https://lnkd.in/eGZ_XvQP Congratulations to the Finance for Biodiversity Foundation on an impeccably organized and stimulating Summit. ------------------------ Photo credit: 📸 Finance for Biodiversity

📢 #InternshipOpportunity with UN Biodiversity The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is seeking a Communications Intern to join the Communication and Awareness Unit in the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES). The position involves supporting day-to-day media and communication activities across the Secretariat. Responsibilities include assisting in the creation of communication products, contributing to the implementation of the social media strategy, supporting content development across UN Biodiversity platforms, and helping plan and draft daily posts to enhance engagement. The role also includes monitoring analytics, staying informed on emerging tools and best practices, and providing logistical and note-taking support for meetings organized by the Unit. Additional tasks may be assigned as needed. 📍 Location: Montreal 👉 Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/eQ4rspyA #UNBiodiversity #ForNature

The Subregional Dialogue on Biodiversity Monitoring and Reporting for Caribbean countries is taking place this week in Paramaribo, Suriname, as part of a broader series of regional and subregional dialogues supporting the implementation of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Since COP15, the Secretariat, together with UN Environment Programme, UNDP and regional partners, has convened these dialogues across multiple regions to help Parties revise and align their national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs), strengthen monitoring systems and prepare for the forthcoming global review of collective progress. Their purpose is to support countries in translating the Framework into measurable national action. Across recent dialogues, Parties have continued to demonstrate progress. As of now, 141 Parties have submitted national targets and 62 have submitted updated NBSAPs, which represents an important step as countries move from planning to implementation. With the seventh national reports due in February 2026, capacity building on monitoring, indicators and reporting has become a shared priority across all regions. The latest Caribbean dialogue continues this collective effort. Over the past three days, participants have been examining the revision of NBSAPs, strengthening national monitoring plans and systems, advancing the use of indicators and preparing for national reporting. The meeting included contributions from regional organizations, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, women and youth, as well as technical partners such as CARICOM: Caribbean Community, Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI), Group on Earth Observations (GEO), GEO BON, and UNEP-WCMC. Together, these dialogues form an interconnected process designed to build the technical, institutional and collaborative foundations needed for effective implementation of the Framework. This support will help ensure that all Parties are equipped to monitor progress and report confidently as the world moves toward the 2030 Targets. More information and notifications related to NBSAPs can be found here 🔗 https://lnkd.in/etWhmxRT Countries are encouraged to submit their national targets, updated NBSAPs and seventh national reports through the Online Reporting Tool, which also allows the public to view submissions from all Parties. The platform is available here 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eZ3E9uvu