CBDR in the CBD

By Third World Network

In many interventions over the course of the post-2020 GBF negotiations, the developed countries are attempting a collective sleight of hand by asserting that “CBDR (common but differentiated responsibilities) is not in the CBD”. 

They begrudgingly admit that CBDR is in the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. This is enshrined as Principle 7, which states – 

 

States shall cooperate in a spirit of global partnership to conserve, protect and restore the health and integrity of the Earth's ecosystem. In view of the different contributions to global environmental degradation, States have common but differentiated responsibilities. The developed countries acknowledge the responsibility that they bear in the international pursuit of sustainable development in view of the pressures their societies place on the global environment and of the technologies and financial resources they command.

The CBD is one of the Rio Conventions, and the Rio Principles apply. For a Principle to apply, it does not need to be mentioned by name. The CBD makes operational the CBDR Principle in a number of ways, through differentiated obligations of developed and developing country Parties. 

Most significantly, Article 20 on financial resources clearly obliges developed countries to provide financial resources to developing countries. If this was even in doubt, the clear articulation of CBDR in the text of Article 20.4 – 

The extent to which developing country Parties will effectively implement their commitments under this Convention will depend on the effective implementation by developed country Parties of their commitments under this Convention related to financial resources and transfer of technology and will take fully into account the fact that economic and social development and eradication of poverty are the first and overriding priorities of the developing country Parties

- is the same as Article 4.7 of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the sister Convention of the CBD, where the application of CBDR is not disputed.

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