Climate change and biodiversity loss are intricately linked. As our climate changes, habitats change, causing problems for vital planetary ecosystems and their species. At the same time, the loss of biodiversity drives the warming of our planet. As ecosystems degrade, they release greenhouse gases and lose carbon storage potential.

In light of this connection, integrating climate and biodiversity strategies could provide a fundamental step towards addressing the interlinked challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss. Recent discussions during COP16 in Cali, Colombia, underscored the urgency of this approach, with key stakeholders calling for action to strengthen the alignment and synergies between the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) are two of the world’s key mechanisms for climate and biodiversity action. NDCs, coordinated by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), are set by country governments to reduce global emissions and achieve the global goals of the Paris Agreement. NBSAPs, coordinated by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), are also set at the national level but focus on biodiversity conservation and protection to achieve the four goals and 23 targets of the GBF.

These two mechanisms are closely related. Nature-based solutions (NBS), for example, restore biodiversity and yield climate benefits simultaneously. Take for instance, the strategy of restoring a mangrove forest. These wetland forests store carbon, contributing to mitigating greenhouse gases. They also provide vital habitats for species, including nesting sites for birds and mating and nursery sites for aquatic life. Thriving mangroves provide innumerable food sources for humans and wildlife. They also help communities adapt to climate change impacts, acting as natural barriers to coastal flooding.

However, connecting and scaling up these solutions requires addressing technical and financial barriers, increasing collaboration, and emphasizing the need for greater investment in nature-based solutions like nature conservation and restoration. In this context, with a more unified approach, countries could align budgets across multiple targets and open up more funding opportunities from public and private sources. They also might reduce reporting loads and enhance impact.

During NBSAP Day at COP16, hosted by the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership, experts and stakeholders highlighted the potential of ecosystem restoration, in particular, as a unifying thread to advance both climate and biodiversity objectives. Restoration efforts, such as those envisioned under GBF Target 2, not only capture carbon and mitigate climate impacts but also protect critical habitats, enhance community resilience, and create economic opportunities through sustainable value chains.

Likewise, in the framework of the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership, the GIZ project Promoting National Implementation of International Biodiversity Targets supports synergies between climate and biodiversity action at the national level. Together with Euroclima the project is funding in-depth studies in 11 countries to identify challenges and solutions to align NBSAP and NDC implementation in the areas of governance, sectoral implementation, financing, and monitoring and reporting. The project includes Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia, Laos, Madagascar, Mexico, Namibia and Peru.

Initial results from the GIZ project were presented at COP16 and COP29, and summarized in an insight series, with takeaways from the Colombian case study presented during COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The Colombian case study demonstrates how the nation’s integrated approach addresses national priorities for climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development simultaneously. It is a concrete example of how this alignment works in practice, where efforts to harmonize NDCs and NBSAPs are paving the way for more effective action.

To achieve lasting impact, it is imperative to move from dialogue to action, scaling up initiatives that integrate climate and biodiversity goals. Collaborative frameworks, like those showcased at COP16 and COP29, provide the blueprint for aligning NDCs and NBSAPs, but their success depends on sustained commitment, inclusive governance, and robust financing.

The NBSAP Accelerator Partnership upholds the principle of aligning biodiversity, climate, and development actions to accelerate the implementation of ambitious NBSAPs, fostering a future where humanity lives in harmony with Nature.