The CBD is the primary international legal framework for biodiversity conservation, sustainable use of biological resources, and equitable sharing of genetic resource benefits.
Key Facts
- Opened for signature
- 5 June 1992, Earth Summit, Rio de Janeiro
- Entered into force
- 29 December 1993
- Non-ratifying UN member
- United States is the only UN member state not to ratify
- Supplementary protocols
- Cartagena Protocol (2000) and Nagoya Protocol (2010)
- Aichi Biodiversity Targets
- 20 international goals set for 2011–2020 under the Convention
- Conferences of the Parties
- COP 1 (1994, Nassau) through COP 16 (2024, Cali)
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Growing international concern over accelerating biodiversity loss, unsustainable exploitation of natural resources, and inequitable access to genetic resources prompted the global community to seek a binding multilateral framework. The 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro provided the political moment for nations to formalise commitments to conservation and sustainable development.
The Convention on Biological Diversity was opened for signature on 5 June 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. It established three core objectives: conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources. It entered into force on 29 December 1993 and has since been ratified by nearly all UN member states.
The CBD became the central global instrument for biodiversity governance, spawning supplementary agreements including the Cartagena Protocol on biosafety and the Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit-sharing. It drove the creation of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and the UN Decade on Biodiversity (2011–2020), though countries largely failed to meet these targets due to inadequate funding, measurement challenges, and low political prioritisation.
Political Outcome
Multilateral treaty entered into force 29 December 1993; nearly all UN member states ratified; United States remains the sole non-ratifying UN member; supplementary Cartagena and Nagoya Protocols adopted subsequently.