Catch up on the main nature policy news from April
In a nutshell: Fourth negotiating session for a Plastic Treaty concludes / Japan publishes strategy for a nature-positive economy / European Corporate Due Diligence Directive approved by European Parliament / COP16 website now live / Pacific countries discuss the Biodiversity Plan
Negotiations for a Plastic Treaty close in Canada
The 4th Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) to Develop an International Legally Binding Instrument on Plastic Pollution, including in the Marine Environment, or Plastic Treaty took place in Ottawa, Canada, from 23-29 April.
At the meeting, delegates discussed the Revised Zero Draft of the future agreement, which contains options for treaty text organized in five sections related to, among others, the management of plastic along its lifecycle, implementation and reporting.
Delegates debated over problematic and avoidable plastics, with some countries supporting a global list of banned products and others calling for nationally determined measures. Other areas of divergence during the discussion also related to possible provisions on primary plastic polymers, financing, extended producer responsibility and the scope of the agreement.
One of the most ambitious proposals came from Peru and Rwanda, to limit plastic production by 40% over the next 15 years. Another 27 countries supported the proposal by signing the declaration “Bridge to Busan”, calling on all delegates to ensure plastic production is addressed in the treaty.
However, the meeting in Canada failed to put plastic production at the center of the discussion for the treaty and overall progress was insufficient, some campaigners argue.
Two ad hoc intersessional open-ended expert groups were established to start intersessional work which will be considered at INC-5 in November 2024.
An ambitious Plastic Treaty has the potential to end or significantly reduce plastic pollution by aligning national policies and actions towards a global goal on plastic. For businesses and investors, this represents a level playing field and avoiding disconnected action. Through the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, leading business are strongly supportive of an ambitious treaty.
Japan’s Transition to Nature Positive Economy Strategy
The Japanese government published its Nature Positive Economy Transition Strategy to guide and support companies to contribute to a nature positive economy. The strategy supports the implementation of the country’s updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) which aims to achieve a nature-positive economy by 2030 as one of its five main goals.
The strategy includes elements businesses should consider in the nature-positive transition, concrete examples of possible business opportunities and government measures planned to enable the transition.
It is directed mainly towards primary industries such as agriculture, forestry and fishing, and it also includes elements such as hazardous substances management, infrastructure support, subsidy structures, etc.
The government encourages businesses across all these sectors to adopt TNFD to improve risk response and recognition of opportunities. By 2030, the government strives for 50% of large companies to integrate the conservation of nature capital in their management as materiality. By that same year, the country expects to have 1,000 SMEs to have signed the Nature Positive Declaration.
Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive is approved in the EU Parliament
The European Parliament approved the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) in a 374 to 235 vote. The legislation aims to prevent corporate abuses of human rights and the environment by strengthening rules for large EU companies as well as large non-EU companies active in the region.
When adopted, the CSDDD will require in-scope companies to take measures to prevent, identify and mitigate any adverse impact on human rights or the environment, caused by their own operations, the operations of their subsidiaries, and the operations carried out by their business partners. Violating the obligations could result in penalties and civil liability, according to the European Council.
The version of the text adopted by the Parliament, based on a compromise with the European Council, is less ambitious than the initial proposal. The scope has been scaled back, reducing the number of in-scope companies by about 66%. The Directive now only cover companies with at least 1,000 employees and revenues greater than €450 million in the last financial year.
The timeline for implementation has also been loosened, with the first, largest companies, being impacted by the Directive three years after it enters into force. The smallest in-scope businesses would be fully implementing the CSDDD five years after it enters into force.
The CSDDD must now go through the Council once again for approval before it can officially enter into force.
COP16 website
The official website for the UN Biodiversity COP16 has been launched. The site includes the latest information about the conference, including details on the Blue and Green zones, the conference’s theme and the host city of Cali.
The Blue zone will be located within the main conference venue and it is specifically designated for negotiations and dialogues between member states and accredited observers. The registration and accreditation process, available to limited participants, is now open.
The Green zone will be located outside the main conference venue in the city center. This space is open to the public and aims to encourage participation from multiple stakeholders.
COP16 will focus on the implementation of the Biodiversity Plan. In particular, businesses and financial institutions need to continue demonstrating action and building on the momentum created at COP15.
As such, businesses should prioritize participation at COP16 as a way to show this growing momentum and leadership, engage with governments on upcoming policies and start dialogues with different stakeholders, such as Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities and youth.
Business for Nature has compiled relevant information for the business community ahead of COP16.
Pacific countries meet to discuss the implementation of the Biodiversity Plan
In a sub-regional dialogue, representatives from Pacific countries discussed the implementation of the Biodiversity Plan as well as the NBSAP update process.
Countries participating confirmed that they were on track to achieve Target 3 of the Biodiversity Plan of protecting at least 30% of terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine areas by 2030. Indeed, many Pacific countries are already protecting that percentage of territory and hope to scale up the ambition.
Regarding the NBSAP update process, however, representatives expressed concerns. While “there is a plethora of different tools, resources, and online platforms available to support them, it is often overwhelming and overburdening”, according to the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
Read the March news update to catch up with the previous nature policy stories from around the world.