SCMP: The UN Cop16 biodiversity summit in Cali, Colombia, ended over the weekend in a mix of achievements and setbacks. The question remains: can countries’ goal to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 be met?

While an agreement on a new Cali fund to share the revenue derived from “digital sequence information”, or genetic data from nature, with indigenous communities is a step forward, it is worrying that wider negotiations for nature funding were suspended. Without a solid finance strategy, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework agreed at Cop15 faces an uncertain future, given that developed nations have fallen behind on their commitment to contribute US$20 billion annually to help developing countries with biodiversity efforts by 2025.

Cop16 made progress in two other areas. In a shift towards a whole-of-society approach, a “Mainstreaming Champions Group” of nations was formed to mainstream biodiversity across sectors, while a permanent body was created for indigenous communities to consult on UN biodiversity decisions.

There are important lessons here for Hong Kong. The government is updating the Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP), and it has a critical responsibility to align with and contribute to the global target, prioritising biodiversity in all decision-making processes and promoting it across society.

The revised BSAP must go beyond a symbolic commitment to biodiversity. Conservation should not be viewed merely as an environmental issue; it is a vital matter that directly influences Hongkongers’ well-being, health and quality of life.

Healthy ecosystems support cleaner air, mitigate flood risks, act as carbon sinks and provide space for recreation – all essential for a resilient, thriving city. A nature-inclusive city would also attract international talent and investment, creating more opportunities and a positive feedback loop that benefits the economy, society and environment.

So how do we get started? Here, strong political will is the key. The revised BSAP must emphasise a whole-of-government approach, supported by the chief executive, to mainstreaming biodiversity across bureaus and departments, especially in areas such as land and marine development.

For example, Hong Kong should address the lack of marine spatial planning. For land, we have a structured land-use system – Outline Zoning Plans – under the purview of the Town Planning Board and the Planning Department, but we lack similarly clear marine-use plans.

Under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, all areas must be planned and managed to prevent biodiversity loss. It is thus essential for Hong Kong to develop a comprehensive, science-based marine spatial plan.
Hong Kong has recently established its eighth and largest marine park off northern Lantau. Maintaining it not only requires collaboration among bureaus and departments in Hong Kong but also cross-border cooperation.
While Hong Kong has done well in conserving about 40 per cent of the terrestrial landscape as protected areas, what about our urban parks? We have a huge opportunity to enhance ecological value through the urban park network. These parks can establish biodiversity key performance indicators, embrace more native species and pollinators, and encourage urban farming.

With better implementation, urban parks could figure in the city’s climate mitigation and adaptation plans. International guidelines allow urban parks with high ecological value to be recognised and reported as “other effective area-based conservation measures”. Urban parks may be eligible to be counted towards Hong Kong’s contribution to the Cop15 target of protecting 30 per cent of the world’s lands and waters by 2030, but this would require collaboration among government departments.
Hong Kong must also actively involve business, civil society and local communities in its biodiversity efforts. Going beyond policy, we should embed biodiversity into the city’s identity, making sustainability the new normal.

For example, businesses need to consider their biodiversity risks and climate impacts, and take responsibility accordingly across supply chains, with a focus on avoiding or mitigating biodiversity loss as much as possible.

From a young age, people need to be educated about sustainable consumption of our planet’s natural resources, and encouraged to “buy less, buy better”.

Meanwhile, the failure of Cop16 to finalise a funding strategy should spur Hong Kong to offer innovative funding solutions, thus strengthening our position as a green finance hub, in line with the latest policy address.

The government should consider models such as blended finance in supporting viable ecotourism and urban farming projects as part of nature-based solutions within the Northern Metropolis.

Last month, the United Nations warned that we are on track for 3.1 degrees Celsius of global warming if governments do not take stronger action to reduce emissions. Now is the time for Hong Kong to set a bold example for the world, aligning our city’s development with nature and climate goals through whole-of-government, whole-of-society approaches and sustainable finance.

Originally published on SCMP on 7 November 2024. Written by Kitty Tam.