“We had the same conversation 4 years ago—it's time to pass this Framework”

On October 24, 2024, the KMGBF Pavilion hosted a dynamic discussion among four environmental leaders, underscoring the urgent need to pass and implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). This session aimed to communicate both the necessity of adoption and practical understanding for a broader audience.

Cristina Romanelli, WHO’s Biodiversity & Health and One Health Focal Point, passionately called for immediate action on the KMGBF. “As an environmental scientist and policy practitioner for over 20 years, I’ve seen these same discussions repeat year after year,” said Romanelli. She stressed that waiting for “complete science” isn’t an option, as the pressures on ecosystems are constantly evolving. “If we’re waiting for science to be complete, we’ll end up doing nothing,” she added.

Doreen Robinson, Principal Coordination Officer of UNEP’s Ecosystem Division, echoed the call to adopt the framework. She highlighted the need for better communication between scientists and policymakers, urging scientists to translate their research into accessible insights for decision-makers. “Scientists need to learn how to communicate their research so that policymakers don’t need to understand the hard sciences,” Robinson said, emphasizing the role of data-driven communication in shaping policy.

While challenges remain, there is progress: as of 2024, all but two parties agree on the link between biodiversity and health. To accelerate adoption, the CGIAR Environmental Health & Biodiversity Platform is committed to pushing for KMGBF implementation, directing resources to meet its targets. This is a critical step to ensure that, four years from now, these conversations aren’t still circling the same issues but advancing toward meaningful global change.