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 20:
“Strengthen capacity-building and development, access to and transfer of technology, and promote development of and access to innovation and technical and scientific cooperation, including through South-South, North-South and triangular cooperation, to meet the needs for effective implementation, particularly in developing countries, fostering joint technology development and joint scientific research programmes for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and strengthening scientific research and monitoring capacities, commensurate with the ambition of the goals and targets of the Framework.”
TARGET 20 plays a pivotal role in supporting the overall goals of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework by recognising that effective conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity require robust scientific and technical capacities, especially in developing countries. By focusing on capacity-building, technology transfer, and the promotion of innovation, TARGET 20 seeks to address disparities in resources and expertise among nations, ensuring that all countries are equipped to contribute meaningfully to global biodiversity objectives.
This target encourages collaborative approaches such as South-South, North-South, and triangular cooperation. These partnerships facilitate the sharing of knowledge, experience, and resources, enabling countries to learn from each other and jointly develop solutions tailored to their unique ecological and socio-economic contexts. For example, joint scientific research programmes can help generate region-specific data, while technology transfer initiatives can accelerate the adoption of effective conservation practices worldwide.
Furthermore, TARGET 20 emphasises the importance of fostering innovation and strengthening scientific research and monitoring capacities. This includes supporting the development of new tools for biodiversity assessment, enhancing data collection and analysis, and building the skills needed to implement the Framework’s ambitious goals and targets. By investing in these areas, the international community can ensure ongoing progress in biodiversity conservation, adapt to emerging challenges, and measure the effectiveness of interventions over time.
In summary, the successful implementation of TARGET 20 is fundamental for building a strong foundation for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity globally. By empowering countries through capacity-building, technological advancement, and scientific cooperation, the Framework aims to create a more equitable and effective response to the biodiversity crisis, ensuring that no nation is left behind in the pursuit of a healthier planet for all.
