Abstract:

Background & Aim: Finance-related issues have been the focus of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Financial mechanism and resource mobilization are recurring topics at each Conference of the Parties (COP) of CBD. As the funding issue relates to the political wills of the CBD parties, there are substantial disputes between developed and developing countries. As the largest developing country and the current president of CBD COP15, China plays a significant role in resource mobilization, which necessitates additional research. In this context, this paper discussed the central elements of the CBD’s financial issues, including public funding, funding efficiency and effectiveness, biodiversity-harmful incentives, and the participation of stakeholders.

Methods: We analyzed the major points of contention that arose during negotiations, including whether to emphasize multi-channel capital increase, whether to establish a new financial mechanism, whether to eliminate all biodiversity-harmful subsidies, and the specific financing goals.

Suggestions: We propose to increase government funding for biodiversity, improve the coordination amongst related departments, catalyze social funds by various financial tools, minimize biodiversity-related risks, improve information closure, maximize the role of market mechanisms and to develop innovative financing channels.

Key words: the Convention on Biological Diversity, finance-related issues, biodiversity