Policy Brief: The US must accede to the Convention on Biological Diversity
Affirm Commitment to Biodiversity at this Critical Juncture
The Convention on Biological Diversity
The CBD is a treaty signed into effect by 150 nations in 1992 at the urging of the scientific community and environmental groups. The treaty addresses three key issues: the conservation of global biodiversity, the sustainable use of the components of biological diversity, and the equitable sharing of the benefits of genetic resources. The Convention meets each year to set and maintain Strategic Plans working towards measurable conservation goals. Example goals from the 2020 strategic plan include habitat protection in national development and poverty reduction strategies, eliminating national subsidies that harm biodiversity, and identification of invasive species pathways (CBD, Intro).
The US and the Holy See are the only two nations to not sign the treaty. Despite the US’s role of US diplomats in developing the CBD, President Bush chose not to sign on in 1992, and while Bill Clinton did sign the treaty, it was blocked in the Republican Congress and never ratified. Twenty years later, no president has proposed the CBD for ratification since (Vox). Signing onto the CBD is more crucial now than ever before to protect the wellbeing of the planet, protect human life, and align the United States internationally with domestic conservation efforts.
Increased Urgency of Conservation
Despite global conservation efforts, the number of endangered species continues to rise each year. As tallied by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, 15,400 species are designated as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered, double the number of protected species in 2007 (Statista). Several factors contribute to this decline: rising temperatures push species out of their livable ranges, invasive species out compete natives for ever more scarce resources, and human development has outright destroyed habitats (Nature). Without intensified human intervention, these trends will only worsen, underlining the importance of the CBD.
Myths & Realities
The 1993 Republican-held Senate did not ratify the CBD because of objections grounded more in shortsighted political concerns than reality. Each of these concerns and the reality is discussed below.
Intellectual Property Theft and Biotech
Myth: Lawmakers worried that the 3rd objective of the CBD, the “equitable sharing of the benefits of genetic resources” would compel US biotech companies to divulge trade secrets, neutralizing their competitive edge and dissuading investment in genetic research.
Reality: Article 16(2) specifies “fair and most favorable terms” for the sharing of genetic information, agreed in negotiations to entail voluntary agreement by all parties to take effect. Secondly, Article 16(5) ensures “adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights,”(Clinton)
Financial Responsibility for Developing Nations
Myth: The treaty includes a financial mechanism for developed nations to support conservation projects in developing nations, a clause Republicans worried would be exploited.
Reality: The treaty functions on universal consent, especially in regard to financial commitments. In the words of William Snape, chief council of the Center for Biological Diversity, “The US would not be forced to do anything” (Vox)
Imposition of Restrictive Environmental Regulation
Myth: The CBD would force the passage of draconian environmental laws that would stifle growth within the US.
Reality: hundreds of state and federal laws already existed in 1992 to adequately comply with Convention goals––laws that have since been expanded and have not slowed economic growth. (Vox)
Sync with Broader Administration Objectives
Signing onto the CBD would complement and fortify stated Biden Administration goals and reflect America’s position as a global leader. President Biden campaigned on the promise to protect 30% of US land against development by 2030. While the entirety of this agenda has yet to come to fruition, the already-passed bipartisan infrastructure bill invests millions in physical infrastructure and organizations to protect wildlife. Why not leverage US progress to compel other nations to do the same, and through the form of a legally binding agreement? Biodiversity conservation also tangibly contributes US security and prosperity. In the words of UN Science Policy Expert Robert Watson, “We are eroding the very foundations of our economies, livelihoods, food security, health and quality of life worldwide.” (Grist) All of these pillars directly contribute to the wellbeing of Americans, the sworn constituency of the president. Given the global nature of modern supply chains and economies, the US is not safe by just protecting its own lands, but can guard these global interests by actively engaging in international efforts. Investing our national energy in protecting biodiversity now could avert future disasters and crises, a dividend far greater than the cost.
Bibliography
Buchholz, Katharina. “Infographic: Number of Threatened Species Is Rising.” Statista Infographics. Statista, February 22, 2019. https://www.statista.com/chart/17122/number-of-threatened-species-red-list/.
Convention on Biological Diversity. “Introduction.” www.cbd.int, January 16, 2012. https://www.cbd.int/intro/.
Editorial Staff. “The United Nations Must Get Its New Biodiversity Targets Right.” Nature 578, no. 7795 (February 2020): 337–38. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-020-00450-5.
Jones, Benji. “Why the US Won’t Join the Single Most Important Treaty to Protect Nature.” Vox, May 20, 2021. https://www.vox.com/22434172/us-cbd-treaty-biological-diversity-nature-conservation.
Teirstein, Zoya. “One Surprising Winner in Biden’s Infrastructure Bill: Biodiversity.” Grist, November 17, 2021. https://grist.org/politics/one-surprising-winner-in-bidens-infrastructure-bill-biodiversity/.
“Resolution of Ratification – Treaty Document 103-20 – CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY.” Congress.gov, Library of Congress, 22 March 2022, https://www.congress.gov/treaty-document/103rd-congress/20/resolution-text.
