21 organisations are urging the EU to prioritise biodiversity conservation in the upcoming international cooperation budget
Joint statement, 4 November 2024
Wetlands International Europe, along with 21 organisations, is calling on the EU to prioritise biodiversity conservation in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028-2034) for international cooperation.
The EU must show global leadership in tackling interconnected crises — biodiversity loss, climate change, environmental degradation, health risks, and rising insecurity — while strengthening its commitment to preserving vital ecosystems, promoting sustainable development, and alleviating poverty. Biodiversity loss, especially in vulnerable regions, exacerbates conflict, displacement, and migration pressures, undermining stability. Healthy ecosystems, on the other hand, are essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring food and water security, and enhancing climate resilience.
As EU budget negotiations approach, WWF jointly with other organisations underscore the need for the next external action budget to prioritise biodiversity and nature-based solutions, highlighting the enduring value and cost-effectiveness of investing in nature. This approach would align with the EU’s commitments under key frameworks, including the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the Paris Agreement, and Agenda 2030.
To strengthen global socio-economic security and resilience, the forthcoming budget must include a dedicated biodiversity spending target to help close the biodiversity finance gap, enabling the EU to fulfil its international commitments and drive transformative change. We therefore urge the EU to increase its ambition by committing a larger proportion of its future budget for international cooperation to these urgent priorities, specifically through:
- Establishing a legally binding 15% biodiversity spending target in the international cooperation budget.
- Mainstreaming biodiversity across sectors such as agriculture, climate, and infrastructure development within international cooperation.
- Safeguarding centrally managed thematic programs in the next NDICI instrument to ensure dedicated funding for biodiversity and natural resource management.
- Scaling up investments in nature and biodiversity under the Global Gateway initiative and developing financially viable conservation and restoration initiatives that engage businesses.
- Strengthening environmental safeguards for international cooperation, including adherence to the ‘do no significant harm’ (DNSH) principle and comprehensive environmental impact assessments.
- Expanding support for Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and civil society organisations to improve biodiversity funding absorption, enhance impact, and ensure long-term sustainability.
