Perverse incentives: Elimination of “eliminate”?
Now It’s 2022 – Aichi Target 3 has not been achieved and we discuss new targets – but instead of stepping up the efforts, the goal of “eliminating” is itself being eliminated.
A short timeline:
2010
COP 10 in Nagoya agreed Aichi Target 3
“By 2020, at the latest, incentives, including subsidies, harmful to biodiversity are eliminated, phased out or reformed in order to minimize or avoid negative impacts, and positive incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity are developed and applied, consistent and in harmony with the Convention and other relevant international obligations, taking into account national socio economic conditions.”
and in Decision X/44, paras 3 and 9 the COP urged Parties to
“... increase their efforts in actively identifying, eliminating, phasing out, or reforming, [...] existing harmful incentives...”
2014
COP 12 in Pyeongchang in Decision XII/3 reiterates the importance of Aichi Target 3 and its
“... considerable potential to reduce negative pressures on biodiversity as well as to potentially mobilize resources for biodiversity.”
referring repeatedly to
“... elimination, phase-out or reform of harmful incentives... ”
XII/3 Annex 1, paras 1-4 detail possible actions to “eliminate, phase out or reform” while para 5 sets a milestone for 2015-2018 including:
“2018: Finalization of policy plans that (i) identify those harmful incentives that are candidates for elimination, phase-out, or reform; (ii) provide for a prioritized list of measures leading to their eventual elimination, phase-out, or reform; [...]”
2016
COP 13 in Cancun, Decision XIII/20 para 23 on Resource Mobilisation in reference to Aichi Target 3 specifies the
“... elimination, phase-out or reform...”
2018
COP 14 in Sharm El-Sheikh Decision XIV/22, para 9 on Resource Moblisation still refers to Aichi Target 3
“... elimination, phase-out, or reform of incentives, including subsidies that are harmful for biodiversity ... “
2022
The draft target 18 currently reads
“Redirect, repurpose, reform or eliminate incentives harmful for biodiversity”
In the discussion on this target we now hear some Parties arguing that the target should not contain the word “eliminate”. Some even argue for adding a qualifier of “in line with WTO rules” so that this target would not disrupt trade.
It’s 2022, Parties did not fulfill the Aichi Target 3, but instead of stepping up implementation of their obligations, we are falling dangerously far behind the amibition and vision we had 12 years ago.
By Antje Lorch, Ecoropa
__________________________________________________________________________