Biodiv Sci ›› 2011, Vol. 19 ›› Issue (4): 400-403.  DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1003.2011.04040

• Conservation forum • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Climate change issue in Convention on Biological Diversity: negotiations and focuses

Jun Wu1, Chengyi Zhang2, Haigen Xu1,*()   

  1. 1 Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Nanjing 210042
    2 National Climate Center, China Meteorological Administration, Beijing 100081
  • Received:2011-03-04 Accepted:2011-05-06 Online:2011-07-20 Published:2011-07-29
  • Contact: Haigen Xu

Abstract:

Recently, the issue of biodiversity and climate change is becoming a focus of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and parties to the convention have carried out heavy multilateral negotiations on the issue. This paper reviews the background pertaining to biodiversity and climate change, discusses the disputes and standpoints of major parties, and highlights two opposing groups: the developed countries represented by the European Union (EU), and the mega-diversity developing countries represented by Brazil, Columbia and China. The main disputes of the negotiations include: (i) Expansion of the climate change concept: EU nations hope to expand consideration of climate change and integrate it into various issues within the CBD, and to promote synergy among three Rio Conventions (Convention on Biological Diversity, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification). However, the developing countries are more leery of these tendencies. (ii) Geoengineering and ocean fertilization: EU suggests forbidding geoengineering and establishing a global management framework, whereas the developing countries suggest applying the “precautionary principle” to these issues. (iii) Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD): EU urges development of “Biodiversity Safeguards” for REDD, while the developing countries oppose this proposal. We surmise that the main reason for these debates is that the developing countries are afraid of being restricted by the EU and related developed countries, and that these debates will become more fierce in the future. In the end, we proposes some strategies for debate resolution: (i) strengthen communication and coordination of relevant domestic agencies; (ii) summarize and propagandize successful practices and experiences in the area of climate change in China; and (iii) improve research on REDD mechanisms.

Key words: biodiversity, climate change, negotiations