Advancing Synergies Between Biodiversity and Climate Change Policy
This series of projects aims to provide evidence-based policy advice, guidance, and practical tools for fostering synergies between climate change and biodiversity actions. It helps policy-makers and practitioners align climate change and biodiversity policies at the national and international levels to enable more coordinated, coherent, and effective approaches to addressing climate and biodiversity crises.
The 2015 Paris Agreement and the 2022 Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework are inherently complementary. Their overarching goals—to protect biodiversity and to mitigate and adapt to climate change—are deeply interlinked. The success of one depends on the implementation of the other. This interdependence has been recognized by the scientific community and reflected in numerous decisions, declarations, and calls for enhanced collaboration. Together, they offer a strong foundation for countries to create practical linkages and work synergistically toward meeting their global commitments.
As countries revisit and renew their commitments under the respective conventions, there is a critical and timely opportunity to foster alignment across processes. This integrated approach can help identify options that deliver multiple benefits for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, as well as for climate adaptation and mitigation.
The International Institute for Sustainable Development is actively supporting projects that highlight synergies between biodiversity and climate change policies, with a focus on national and local implementation. These initiatives aim to improve understanding, build capacity, and support policy uptake of integrated approaches, including the use of nature-based solutions, their enabling conditions, and the mechanisms needed for joint implementation and mainstreaming. The work also seeks to provide a robust scientific foundation alongside compelling examples, approaches, and case studies to demonstrate how biodiversity and climate objectives can be advanced together.
WHAT DOES CREATING SYNERGIES MEAN?
Creating synergies involves the intentional coordination of planning and implementation of national climate and biodiversity commitments and strategies—nationally determined contributions, national adaptation plans, and national biodiversity strategies and action plans—at the national level to achieve enhanced results greater than if each policy instrument were implemented by itself. Creating synergies creates multiple co-benefits, seeks more effective outcomes, and ensures efforts in one area do not undermine progress in another.
Project Work
Building Synergies Between Biodiversity and Climate
Global report that sheds light on how countries can effectively align their climate and biodiversity agendas.
Comparative Analysis of the Existing Criteria, Principles, and Safeguards for the Implementation of Nature-Based Solutions
This background note analyzes the similarities, differences, and gaps of the International Union for Conservation of Nature Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions and the Convention on Biological Diversity Voluntary Guidelines for the Design and Effective Implementation of Ecosystem-based Approaches for Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction.
Effectively Delivering on Climate and Nature: NDCs, NAPs and NBSAPs Synergies
This checklist for national policy-makers illustrates potential opportunities and interactions during the development or update of the nationally determined contribution (NDC), National Adaptation Plan (NAP), and national biodiversity strategies and action plan (NBSAP).
Synergies Between Biodiversity and Climate Policy Frameworks – A Series of Thematic Papers
These thematic papers have everything policy-makers need to pursue more synergistic responses to address the co-existing challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.
Promoting Synergies Between Climate Change Adaptation and Biodiversity Through the National Adaptation Plan and National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan Processes
This technical brief reviews the interconnections between biodiversity and climate adaptation and explores fostering synergies between the NAP and NBSAP processes.
Project team
Latest
You might also be interested in
Climate Adaptation and Protected Areas Initiative
A new initiative will use nature-based solutions to support local communities in adapting to climate change while safeguarding critical ecosystems in and around protected areas.
Nature for Climate Adaptation Initiative
A new initiative aims to support nature-based climate action that protects livelihoods and biodiversity in the most vulnerable parts of the world.
Prairie Watershed Analytics
Prairie Watershed Analytics is focused on providing Canadians in the Prairies with the information they need to understand their local watershed. Watershed models can support local decision-makers and businesses with evaluating ecosystem services and connecting with environmental incentive programs. Prairie Watershed Analytics is making this practice simple and accessible using open data and toolsto automate and scale watershed modeling tailored to the Prairies.
AQUA-Pearl
A new project helps communities in Fiji build their resilience to climate change through nature-based approaches to oyster aquaculture.