When Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) in December 2022, hopes were high that it would set the world on the path for realizing its vision of “living in harmony with nature by 2050”. Indeed, several of the GBF’s 23 action-oriented targets for 2030 are more specific than its predecessor, the 2010-2020 Aichi Targets, and at least on paper, the GBF significantly strengthens the CBD’s accountability mechanisms. COP 17 in October 2026 will see the first global stocktake of parties’ collective progress towards achieving the GBF’s 2030 targets and 2050 vision. However, the official stocktaking process has two blind spots related to, first, its collective character, which does not aim at assessing countries’ individual performance, and, second, its strong focus on ecological indicators, which ignores many social and governance aspects.
Shortly before CBD COP 17, this session will open up a space for broader analysis of progress towards just and effective GBF implementation. We aim to critically discuss topics such as the role of social and governance indicators in the GBF’s monitoring framework, the legal and political strength of its broader accountability framework, national efforts at just GBF implementation (including, but not limited to, aspects of distributive, procedural, and recognition justice), processes of translating GBF norms into national contexts, etc. We invite submissions from scholars and practitioners and particularly value contributions that combine rigorous analysis of the status quo with forward-looking policy recommendations. We will consider publication of a policy brief or perspectives paper for CBD COP 17 together with session contributors shortly after the session.