TWN Info Service on Biodiversity and Traditional Knowledge (Oct23/01)
19 October 2023
Third World Network

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Implementing and monitoring the action on pesticides under the KMGBF

We are pleased to share two new briefing papers, published by Pesticide Action International and the Third World Network, which focus on pesticides and how they should be addressed and monitored under the Conventions on Biological Diversity’s Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).

The first, Interpreting the Mandate for Action on Pesticides in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), looks at the pesticides-related targets agreed in the KMGBF, particularly Targets 7, 10, 15 and 18, and what needs to be done to meet the pesticides risk reduction target.

The second, Optimizing the Monitoring Framework Indicators for Pesticides in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), makes recommendations on the indicators that are needed to monitor the implementation of the pesticides-related targets.

We reproduce below the Key Messages from both briefing papers. 

With best wishes,

Third World Network

Item 1

INTERPRETING THE MANDATE FOR ACTION ON PESTICIDES IN THE KUNMING- MONTREAL GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY FRAMEWORK (KMGBF)

Pesticide Action Network International (PAN) and Third World Network (TWN)

October 2023

Key Messages

1. Transformative action on pesticides and agricultural sector reform is a central element of countries’ commitments under the landmark Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) agreed at the fifteenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in December 2022.

2. To meet the mandate of the KMGBF on pesticides, Parties need to:

·         reduce the overall use and toxicity of pesticides (pesticide load / toxic load) by at least half by 2030. PAN/TWN recommend that the most effective single action Parties can take to achieve this is to phase out the use of Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs);

·         dramatically increase investment in and implementation of agroecological farming practices, including organic farming, at scales enabling the pesticide risk reduction target;

·         eliminate subsidies and other incentives that support pesticide use, and redirect incentives to implement agroecology and non-chemical alternatives to pesticides;

·         ensure companies monitor, assess and publicly disclose the biodiversity impacts of their pesticides-related activities, and inform pesticides consumers how to reduce pesticide use and toxicity.

These requirements are embedded in KMGBF Targets 7, 10, 15, and 18, which mandate Parties to take strong measurable action on inter-linked drivers of biodiversity loss relevant to pesticides, namely; pollution, agriculture, corporate practices, financial and other incentives harmful for biodiversity.

These actions need to be clearly reflected in Parties’ revised National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) by COP16 in 2024 and in country and global reporting under the KMGBF Monitoring Framework thereafter.

Indicators relevant to pesticides in the Monitoring Framework for the KMGBF are currently insufficient and should be optimized by the Ad-Hoc Technical Expert Group on Indicators (AHTEG). PAN/TWN have developed separate recommendations on how KMGBF Monitoring Framework indicators should be improved.

Item 2

OPTIMIZING THE MONITORING FRAMEWORK INDICATORS FOR PESTICIDES IN THE KUNMING-MONTREAL GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY FRAMEWORK (KMGBF)

October 2023

Pesticide Action Network International (PAN) and Third World Network (TWN)

Key Messages

1. Transformative action on pesticide pollution and agricultural sector reform are critical and connected commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global

Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).

2. Target 7 mandates ‘the overall risk from pesticides’ be reduced ‘by at least half’ by 2030 with risk being measured by both the use and toxicity of pesticides applied (pesticide load, or toxic load). The vast majority of reductions must occur in agriculture.

3. Target 10 calls for a ‘substantial increase’ in the application of agroecological practices, while Targets 15 and 18 require actions to ensure corporate practice and financial and other incentives contribute to the pesticides and agroecological outcomes of

Target 7 and 10.

4. The KMGBF mandates the Ad-Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on Indicators to ‘address critical gaps to improve the monitoring framework’.

5. Indicators for pesticides and agriculture present critical gaps for the AHTEG to address.

PAN/TWN therefore recommends that the AHTEG advises Parties to:

I. employ the Pesticide Load Indicator (or others of the appropriate indicators highlighted in the Target 7 Science Brief ) as the scientific methodology for reporting on Headline Indicator 7.2 - ‘pesticide environmental concentration’;

II. disaggregate Indicator 7.2 reporting (using the Pesticide Load Indicator methodology) to include pesticide load reductions by sector, including agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, urban and amenity, and health;

III. nominate suitable Target 7 indicators for ‘highly hazardous chemicals’;

IV. disaggregate Headline Indicator 10.1 to ensure Parties report specifically on the significant increases in agroecological practices mandated by Target 10;

V. expand and improve on Component and Complementary indicators across Targets 7, 10, 15, and 18. Specific recommendations are made below.