Biodiversity is fundamental to human well-being, planetary health, and economic prosperity around the world. Yet, it is facing an unprecedented crisis: nearly one million species are at risk of extinction. The current extinction rate is already tens to hundreds of times greater than the average over the past ten million years—and this rate is accelerating.
In response to this urgent situation, the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted on December 19, 2022, during the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. This landmark agreement aims to halt the alarming loss of biodiversity and drive global efforts to restore nature.
The Framework includes four long-term goals to achieve the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity, alongside twenty-three specific global targets set for achievement by 2030. These ambitious targets are grouped under three key themes: (1) reducing threats to biodiversity (Targets 1-8); (2) meeting people’s needs through sustainable use and equitable benefit sharing (Targets 9-13); and (3) tools and solutions for implementation and mainstreaming (Targets 14-23).
Here is the TARGET 17:
“Establish, strengthen capacity for, and implement in all countries, biosafety measures as set out in Article 8(g) of the Convention on Biological Diversity and measures for the handling of biotechnology and distribution of its benefits as set out in Article 19 of the Convention.”
TARGET 17 focuses on the critical area of biosafety and biotechnology within the broader objectives of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Specifically, it calls for all countries to develop, enhance, and apply biosafety measures as outlined in Article 8(g) of the Convention on Biological Diversity. This article emphasises the need to regulate, manage, or control the risks associated with the use and release of living modified organisms (LMOs) that might adversely affect biodiversity or pose risks to human health.
Furthermore, TARGET 17 highlights the importance of capacity-building, ensuring that all countries—not just those with advanced scientific infrastructure—are equipped to implement effective biosafety protocols. This includes providing technical support, training, and resources necessary to establish robust regulatory frameworks and risk assessment procedures.
The target also addresses the equitable handling of biotechnology and the fair distribution of its benefits, as stipulated in Article 19 of the Convention. This means countries must put in place measures to facilitate access to biotechnological advancements—such as genetically modified crops or medical innovations—while ensuring that the benefits arising from their use are shared fairly, especially with those communities and countries that contribute genetic resources or traditional knowledge.
In practice, achieving TARGET 17 will require international cooperation, transparent governance, and the involvement of a wide range of stakeholders, including governments, scientific communities, indigenous peoples, and the private sector. By implementing biosafety measures and equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms, countries can help prevent unintended harm to ecosystems, support innovation, and ensure that the use of biotechnology contributes positively to both biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
