South Africa Urges Fair Financing and Enhanced Action Ahead of UN Biodiversity COP17

South Africa has placed equitable financial mechanisms and robust international support at the forefront of global conservation discussions, issuing a firm call for adequate and accessible funding to fast-track the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).

This decisive stance emerged following the conclusion of the seventh meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI-7), which convened in Nairobi, Kenya, from 4 to 12 August 2026. Serving as a crucial preparatory checkpoint, the Nairobi gathering laid the groundwork ahead of the upcoming 2026 United Nations Biodiversity Conference, scheduled to take place in Yerevan, Armenia, from 19 to 30 October 2026.

During the sessions, SBI-7 evaluated global advancement toward the 23 specific targets outlined in the KMGBF, shaping key recommendations destined for the seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17), alongside meetings involving the Parties to the Cartagena and Nagoya Protocols.

South Africa played a prominent role in the negotiations, championing the positions of both the African Group and the Group of Like-Minded Megadiverse Countries. Pretoria underscored that lofty global ambitions will ring hollow unless paired with tangible financial resources, technology transfers, and institutional capacity-building empowering developing nations to fulfill their pledges.

Addressing resource mobilisation, South Africa raised alarms that international conservation funding continues to lag far behind the thresholds mandated by Target 19(a) of the KMGBF. This target mandates international financial flows for biodiversity directed to developing countries to reach at least USD 20 billion annually by 2025, scaling up to USD 30 billion annually by 2030. According to the delegation, the global biodiversity finance framework must deliver predictable, sufficient, and barrier-free support.

Discussions also touched upon the governance of the Cali Fund, with South Africa advocating for continued oversight by the Conference of the Parties. The nation cautioned that contribution thresholds must not undermine the integrity of the multilateral mechanism dedicated to sharing benefits derived from the utilization of digital sequence information on genetic resources. Furthermore, non-monetary dividends must encompass technology access, scientific collaboration, and research findings.

On the broader topic of tracking KMGBF implementation, South Africa pushed back against piling on new regulatory obligations or heavier reporting mandates. The delegation insisted that evaluation findings must respect distinct national contexts, local capacities, and sovereign development priorities.

Beyond pure conservation, South Africa pressed for the mainstreaming of biodiversity into heavy-impact sectors like mining, agriculture, fisheries, and tourism, tightly weaving environmental protection with sustainable development and poverty alleviation. Parties were likewise encouraged to empower municipal governments and local authorities to roll out localized biodiversity strategies while removing structural hurdles that block grassroots institutions from securing vital funding.

Regarding public awareness and education, South Africa, speaking for the African Group, endorsed the draft global plan of action for biodiversity education. At Pretoria’s prompting, the revised text acknowledges South Africa’s upcoming role hosting the 2026 global celebration for the International Day for Biological Diversity under the banner “Acting Locally for Global Impact.” The delegation also urged tight synchronization between global educational frameworks and national biodiversity plans, backed by robust financial and technical backing.

Additional discussions addressed synthetic biology, where South Africa endorsed the proposed thematic action plan while insisting on dedicated, timely financing for knowledge-sharing and technical capacity. The delegation also put forward measures to optimize the Cartagena and Nagoya Protocols, aiming to operationalize access and benefit-sharing checkpoints and boost regional synergy.

Highlighting domestic leadership in scientific cooperation, South Africa drew attention to the technical and scientific support centre managed by the South African National Biodiversity Institute, pressing for its full operational rollout to bolster continental and global capacities.

While SBI-7 successfully cleared multiple recommendations for COP17, sharp divisions persist—most notably regarding international finance architecture and the mechanics of the digital sequence information mechanism. South Africa has signaled its intent to maintain proactive engagement to ensure Yerevan delivers equitable, fully funded, and actionable outcomes.