Cultural Survival’s Statement Regarding COP15 Decisions and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
After more than four years of preparations and negotiations, the 15th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP15) has come to a close in Montreal, Canada. On December 19, 2022, the COP15 presidency adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is a non-binding agreement among 196 Nation states who are parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. The GBF has four long-term goals for 2050 related to the CBD’s vision of “living in harmony with nature,” and 23 targets that should be initiated immediately and completed by 2030, and will support the 2050 vision. The goals include increasing the area of natural ecosystems, halting human-induced extinction of threatened species and reducing the extinction rate and risk of all species by tenfold, increasing the sustainable use of biodiversity, the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of genetic resources, and equitable access to financial resources, capacity building, technical and scientific cooperation, and technology by all parties to be able to implement the framework.
Cultural Survival underscores that as an organization, we have our own position as it relates to the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. We believe that nothing is black and white, and we try to move beyond binary approaches and reflect on what’s at hand from the place of humility, respect, trust, and reciprocity with all of our Indigenous sisters, brothers, and relatives of all genders. Cultural Survival wishes to express gratitude and acknowledge the work of all Indigenous and allied organizations who have been working under the umbrella of the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB) leading up to the adoption of the new Global Biodiversity Framework. It has been a collective effort of many Indigenous leaders from all seven socio-cultural regions who dedicated countless hours to ensure that references to Indigenous Peoples; the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP); a human rights-based approach; Free, Prior and Informed Consent; and rights of nature were included in the text of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. We also want to acknowledge the limitations of the ability of Indigenous rights activists to influence these spaces. Oftentimes access to power players does not guarantee the power to influence decision making. As we personally witnessed the deliberations at COP15, Indigenous Peoples still have yet to find a seat at the table as equals as all decisions continue to be made by powerful colonial states. Cultural Survival is committed to remaining diligent and continuing our work at the global, national, and local levels to respect, protect, and uphold the rights of Indigenous Peoples, in alignment with our values and principles and the expressed priorities of our Indigenous community partners.
Cultural Survival
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(617) 441-5400 www.cs.org
Cultural Survival advocates for Indigenous Peoples' rights and supports Indigenous communities’ self-determination, cultures and political resilience since 1972. We envision a future that respects and honors Indigenous Peoples' inherent rights and dynamic cultures, deeply and richly interwoven in lands, languages, spiritual traditions, and artistic expression, rooted in self-determination and self-governance.
