On 20 June 2025, Diplomatic Courier, a global affairs media network, published an article by Suneetha Subramanian (Research Fellow and Academic Associate, UNU-IAS) calling for better alignment and integration across three multilateral environmental agreements — the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). During 2024 Conference of the Parties (COP) meetings were held for each of these agreements.
The article argues that while these conventions share interconnected goals, fragmented and siloed policy planning has resulted in conflicting outcomes, such as carbon offset strategies that harm biodiversity. It introduces strategies to increase synergies between these agreements and development policies, including joint monitoring and greater institutional transparency.
Excerpt:
For practical reasons, some countries are already considering joint monitoring of the MEAs. Such efforts need to be leveraged by the MEA secretariats and all interested parties to consult and work in tandem. Although there have been calls for the three conventions to move in this direction, putting in motion active steps would require political commitment. The agendas of upcoming policy meetings this year, such as the G20 in South Africa and the COP30 in Brazil, reflect a desire to leverage multiple interlinked societal and environmental priorities. But we are also faced with increasing pushback by national leaders. It is important that we take urgent and wise steps, building on all of the knowledge at our disposal, and working with diverse partners to ensure that we do not continue the inequitable and unsustainable status quo.
The full article is available on the Diplomatic Courier website.
