Convention on Biological Diversity
A Global Treaty
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is the global treaty tasked with protecting and restoring the world’s biodiversity. It may be the planet’s best hope for collective action to safeguard the health of all plants and animals.
The planet is undergoing a global biodiversity crisis. A grievous sixty-nine percent of monitored populations of vertebrates (mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and fish) have been lost since 1970. While much of the international community focuses on the climate change treaty, the biodiversity treaty is equally, if not more, important.
Within the biodiversity treaty, ELC works to advance the Rights of Nature, ecocentrism, and the intrinsic value of Nature—the idea that Nature has intrinsic value aside from its economic benefits to humans. This has the potential to foster a new global ethic to protect and restore biodiversity.
Promoting the Rights of Mother Earth
In 2022, negotiators from across the world adopted a landmark agreement under the CBD that explicitly promotes the Rights of Mother Earth as well as Mother Earth-centric action and other ecocentric commitments. ELC was proud to have played a role in that victory along with our partners and the leadership of Bolivia.
Now, we must work with nations across the world to implement this bold commitment by 2030. Every party to the biodiversity treaty must submit plans to indicate how they will fulfill their commitments in the coming 10 years. This is an incredible opportunity to ensure accountability in restoring biodiversity within each nation on the planet. Join us as we protect the rights and intrinsic value of all life on Earth!
Header Photo: Unsplash / Mylon Ollila; Multimedia (clockwise from top left) Unsplash / Azaz Ahmad; Unsplash / Kris-Mikael Kri; Unsplash / Lucy Doran; Unsplash / Bernd Dittrich; Resources: Unsplash / Chris Abney; Footer: Unsplash / Gerald Schömbs