A critical aspect of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), Target 16, aims to reduce the global footprint of consumption equitably by 2030. SEI and its partners, through research and tools like the Global Environmental Impacts of Consumption (GEIC) indicator, are playing a pivotal role in supporting countries to meet this ambitious goal.

The importance of Target 16 

Target 16 of the Global Biodiversity Framework addresses a crucial yet often overlooked driver of biodiversity loss – global consumption patterns. Agriculture, while essential for food security, is a major contributor to biodiversity degradation, driving deforestation, habitat destruction, and species loss on a massive scale. The recently published WWF Living Planet Report revealed a catastrophic 73% global decline in the average size of monitored wildlife populations between 1970 and 2020. 

Every day, vast quantities of agricultural products are traded across borders, yet the biodiversity impacts of these trade flows are poorly understood, making it difficult to allocate responsibility. To make informed decisions, governments and businesses need clear data on where biodiversity risks are greatest and where opportunities for improvement exist. 

Using data to drive action: SEI’s GEIC Indicator 

At the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in Montreal, the GEIC Indicator was introduced to help track the biodiversity impacts of global consumption under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. As part of Target 16, the GEIC Indicator helps countries understand how their consumption patterns contribute to biodiversity loss.  

This science-based tool provides transparent data on the offshoring of environmental impacts, a process where countries reduce their domestic environmental damage but still contribute to environmental degradation abroad through their consumption of imported goods. According to the WWF Living Planet Report, the steepest biodiversity declines are found in regions like Latin America and the Caribbean, where losses reach a staggering 95%. In contrast, the EU has lower recorded declines, around 35%. However, nations with lower domestic biodiversity loss rates may still drive significant impacts abroad through their international supply chains – a dynamic the GEIC Indicator effectively captures. By revealing these hidden connections, the tool helps countries understand the true global impact of their consumption.  

For countries like the UK and Sweden, around 90% of the environmental impacts of consumption occur abroad. The GEIC Indicator not only enables nations to track this data but also serves as a critical tool for shaping more effective National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs). Integrating this data into NBSAPs is essential for countries to better address the most harmful impacts of consumption and promote sustainable practices, targeting both domestic and international drivers of biodiversity loss.  

Jonathan Green, SEI expert and delegation leader at COP16, highlighted the importance of national policy:

SEI’s engagement at COP16: collective action for Target 16 

This year’s COP in Colombia marks a crucial moment for global biodiversity action. With just six years left to achieve the 2030 targets, this COP assess countries’ commitments and refine the monitoring framework essential for tracking progress. 

At COP16, SEI will leverage its expertise in biodiversity conservation, engaging with international delegates, stakeholders and researchers. Through data-driven insights and strategic guidance, SEI aims to help realign global efforts and accelerate decisive actions to reverse biodiversity loss. By supporting evidence-based decision-making, SEI will help to shape more effective and coordinated strategies to meet the 2030 biodiversity targets. 

Jonathan Green will participate in a hub session on 24 October, where he will lead discussions on how tools like GEIC can help countries monitor the biodiversity impacts of global trade. This session will highlight the importance of trade data in supporting national biodiversity action plans and achieving Target 16 by 2030. 
 

On 28 October, SEI will co-host the side event Momentum for Target 16: enhancing collective action to reduce the global footprint of consumption equitably. This event will bring together experts from governments, NGOs and the private sector to discuss how countries can reduce their consumption impacts through international cooperation, policy reforms and data-driven strategies.

As COP16 unfolds, science-based tools like the GEIC Indicator, alongside platforms like Trase that offer detailed insights into the impacts of key agricultural commodity supply chains, will be critical in supporting the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework. By driving data transparency, fostering collaboration and promoting equitable solutions, SEI is helping to chart a course towards sustainable consumption that benefits both people and the planet.