Nagoya Summit 2010

Nagoya biodiversity summit targets ecosystem preservation

The chain of natural disasters, climate change and food insecurity have made the inhabitants of this planet perplexed .These phenomena pose to be a grave concern for all of us. To save the biodiversity from extinction and to discuss how to stop environmental destruction and the loss of plants and animal species Japan played a leadership role hosting a summit last week in Nagoya, the central Japanese city. Senior ministers and government officials from more than 190 countries gathered there to discuss the crucial issues. Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity reached agreement on the adoption of a protocol for the equitable sharing of benefits derived from the use of genetic resources such as plants from which big business develop drugs, cosmetic and other products. On the final day of the 12-day talks, Matsumoto Chairman of the meeting and Japanese environment minister presented his own proposal to try to break the deadlock after negotiations failed to reach agreement. The adoption of the protocol on access and benefit - sharing of genetic resources was described as a ' long-cherished dream’ by Matsumoto. We know that the Convention on Biological Diversity was born out of the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, along with the United Nations climate change convention with three main objectives such as conserving biological diversity, using biological diversity in a sustainable way and sharing the benefits of genetic resources fairly and equitably.

This agreement the Nagoya Protocol is the second major global environment agreement the Japan has played a leadership role in brokering. The extended session of the 10th meeting of the Conference of the parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, or COP 10 also yielded an agreement on the so-called Aichi targets for ecosystem preservation. As a result, efforts to protect biodiversity will likely have a major impact on business around the world, similar to the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol. Delegates struck a deal on ecosystem preservation targets for the 2011-2020 periods, agreeing to set aside 17 percent of land and 10 percent of the sea for preserving biodiversity.

Finance is essential for addressing these challenges. It is learnt that the Global Environment Facility will spend $1.2 billion on biodiversity over the 2010-14 period, following its successful replenishment with 4.30 billion dollars The UK increased its contribution by 50% and the GEF has also established a new $250 million program for sustainable forest management which will deliver climate change and biodiversity benefits. We must reach agreement on a protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing ensuring fair and transparent access to genetic resources and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from their use.

Environment ministers from almost 200 nations agreed late to adopt a new United Nations strategy that aims to stem the worst loss of life on earth since the demise of the dinosaurs. Frantic negotiations also saw the UN’s COP 10 biodiversity conference adopt a new treaty, the Nagoya Protocol, to manage the world’s genetic resources and share the multibillion- dollar benefits with developing nations and indigenous communities. Governments have been discussing this subject for 18 years, but it has been held up until now because it ran across issues of trade, health, traditional medicine and hence pitted multinational pharmaceuticals companies against indigenous communities. The Nagoya Protocol will see governments considering ways to provide recompense for genetic material and traditional medical knowledge collected in the past that is now being used, patented and sold. This is likely to be done through a special fund for developing nations that could be used for conservation or scientific research centers.


Without the adoption of the protocol on access and benefit sharing, termed an anti-bio-piracy protocol by activists, the Nagoya conference would not be considered a success, many participants commented. The European Union first demanded 20 percent of coastal and marine areas are protected by 2020 but later compromised, dropping to 15 percent while China insisted on 6 percent. The conference actually did not specify how much money would be provided to achieve its goals to save habitats and species. Instead governments agreed to draw up a funding plan, with sums, baselines and other details by 2012. The host country Japan has pledged $20 billion this week for biodiversity while the UK and France have earmarked smaller sums for related projects already mentioned in the third paragraph.


Jim Leape, Director General of WWF International of course has said that the agreement reaffirms the fundamental need to conserve nature as the very foundation of our economy and our society. Governments have sent a strong message that protecting the health of the planet has a place in international politics and countries are ready to join forces to save life on Earth. The Nagoya Protocol is an historic achievement ensuring that the often immense value of genetic resources I more equally shared. Director General of WWF International welcomed the overall deal. This agreement reaffirms the fundamental need to conserve nature as the very foundation of our economy and our society. Government has sent a strong message that protecting the health of the planet has a place in international politics and countries are ready to join forces to save life on Earth. Other groups emphasized that implementation was the key. ‘Participants must be working to save life on this planet from November 1 morning with new efforts and vigour.’--- said IUCNs Director of Conservation Policy, Jane Smart. There is a momentum here which we can’t afford to lose in fact we have to build on it if we stand any change of success in halting the extinction crisis. In earlier reports the IUCN noted that a fifth of the world vertebrates are under threat and the die-off of all species is at the level not seen in 65 million years.

In order to achieve success it is essential that biodiversity, climate change, food security and poverty reduction should be tackled together. The Summit last month in New York, this meeting in Nagoya last week and Cancun next month provide us with a tremendous opportunity to address these interlinked challenges .We cannot but seize the opportunity to make this planet habitable for us and our friends- plants and animals.



Md. Masum Billah
Program Manager: BRAC Education Program, PACE
( The writer regularly writes on various national, international, social and environmental issues)
Cell: 01714-091431
Email: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com