China’s leadership in global biodiversity governance

As countries prepare to gather for the 15th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP), Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) No more impacts on global biodiversity in December 2022.Over the past half century, the world’s wildlife populations have 60 percent. 2019 UN reportwarned, one of many, that the current global response to this accelerating species loss is inadequate and that “transformative change is needed to restore and protect nature.” did.

In October 2021, Kunming hosted COP 15 Part 1, with Huang Junqiu, Minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of China acting as chairman. Ecological Culture Museum (Lifestyle Civilization Construction) is the framework for China’s national approach to sustainability and nature conservation. The escalation of the theme at COP 15 shows that China wants to bring its top-down and numerous conservation practices to the world.

The Kunming event demonstrated China’s commitment to putting this vision into action.As the provincial capital of Yunnan, Kunming is a region rich in biodiversity, home to unique animals such as the Short-nosed Monkey and the Eastern Hoolock Gibbon. The Chinese delegation planned to highlight major advances in conservation science during the conference. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the excursion has taken the form of a video presentation. Side events were similarly curated presentations. COP 15 Part 1 was highly organized with a focus on plenary presentations and little room for intervention. Under China’s leadership, free discussion on biodiversity issues has been greatly curtailed.

The most pressing issue is Post-2020 biodiversity framework – Biodiversity Agreement for the next decade. China has struggled to effectively unite the international community on the deal. Currently, out of 21 framework targets, he has only two fully agreed upon. China’s environmental leadership and achievements were demonstrated at COP 15 Part 1, but Part 2, which is scheduled to start in Montreal from 7-19 December 2022, will highlight how effective China will be. I don’t know yet. China’s leadership in this international democratic forum is essential to a successful and meaningful outcome.

From Kunming to Montreal

China’s zero-coronavirus policy, which restricts the movement of foreigners and Chinese citizens alike, prompted COP 15 Part 2 to move from Kunming to Montreal, where the CBD Secretariat is now located. The move marks a gap between China’s large-scale domestic conservation projects organized by authoritarian decisions and China’s ability to lead the international arena of environmental diplomacy.

One of China’s limitations in global environmental leadership appears to be effectively engaging international voters in democratic dialogue for collective bargaining. In late June 2022, a number of international NGOs, including Greenpeace, the Wildlife Conservation Society and the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity issued the following statement: open letter Criticize the relative lack of high-level political commitment and leadership to solidify international agreement on biodiversity goals.

The first attempt to outline an updated global biodiversity agreement, the Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework ‘Zero Draft’, was not published until 2020. The previous agreement was Aichi target It took three years from 2011 to 2020 to negotiate through working groups with multilateral discussions and sufficient scientific data.

“Zero Draft” proposed many large even targets.this Asked to include 50% of the Earth’s surface Spatial planning for functional use of land and sea and 30% reserved for conservation. The latter reflects the globally prevalent idea of ​​’30 by 30′, with 30% of the world under conservation by 2030. first draftPublished in 2021. The scale of global conservation zoning in this framework is paramount.

Nature beats social participation

a Recent research estimates that if half the planet were to be protected, more than 1 billion people, mostly in middle-income countries, would suddenly live in protected areas. These people have limited access to natural resources and may become refugees due to nature conservation. Expanding protected areas exacerbates global inequalities, movement of people common to Forming protected areas in an international context.

China’s domestic efforts to protect nature and build an ecological civilization are no exception. They regularly demand civilian sacrifices. In recent years, China has embarked on one of the most comprehensive biodiversity conservation zoning programs. ecological red lineThis requires remote sensing and spatial analysis techniques to integrate ecosystem management and biodiversity priorities. Mostly quantitative assessments and efforts to integrate national models with local realities are a continuing source of information. intergovernmental When Management disputeInvoluntary resettlement, often ecological migration, occurring in parallel with ecological redlining and other forms of protection zoning in China.in the example of Kunming ecological red lineconservation zoning displaced thousands of rural people, effectively paving the way for large-scale real estate developments illegally constructed along the shores of the lake.

Despite the difficulty of practical application, the ecological redline technology Conservation model for other Global South countries. However, research shows that China’s ecological red line not only reconfigures nature, Strengthen state power and social inequalityIndeed, authoritarian government structures are rapidly mobilizing people and resources to strengthen “ecosystem security”. The combined problems of ecosystem degradation and social and natural insecurity include issues ranging from access to food and water to public health and economic security.

North American and Western European countries regularly criticize China’s conservation efforts as undemocratic. But within China, nature conservation takes precedence over social participation. COP meetings, by contrast, are preeminent international participatory events. Extensive international diplomacy is also required to create globally agreed biodiversity targets. The jury will rest on China’s ability to successfully catalyze the transformation needed to make its biodiversity paradigm successful and meaningful.

Will the Chinese model become a global model?

In anticipation of COP 15 Part 1, China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment white paper Conservation of biodiversity. The paper praised China’s protected area system with “90% of terrestrial ecosystem types” and “71% of major national protected wildlife species under effective protection.” In 2020, China will national park system Enact new laws to protect wetlands, Yangtze RiverIn addition, recent prohibitions coastal reclamation It aims to protect the habitat of migratory birds.

The scale and speed of conservation programs and laws in China are impressive. How China’s national conservation successes will influence and influence China’s leadership in a contested international arena that operates on democratic norms and demands compromise. still unknown.

In Montreal, China once again takes the lead. Can China present a sophisticated image of ecological civilization building on the international stage without the enforcement mechanisms that permeate Part 1? Can China lead the world to a new biodiversity paradigm? If so, will the burgeoning framework of large-scale protected areas within mainland China set the new standard for global biodiversity conservation?

These are some of the key questions heading into COP 15 in December. The answer has profound implications not only for nature, but also for the future of global environmental governance.