Part I. Statement of Continued Support by the Chairman
Period covered by this Communication on Engagement
From: May 2020 To: May 2022
To our stakeholders:
I am pleased to confirm that China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) reaffirms its support to the United Nations Global Compact and its Ten Principles in the areas of Human Rights, Labour, Environment and Anti-Corruption.
This is our Communication on Engagement (COE) with the United Nations Global Compact. We welcome feedback on its contents. In this Communication of Engagement, we describe the actions that our organization has taken to support the UN Global Compact and its Principles as suggested for an organization like ours. We also commit to sharing this information with our stakeholders using our primary channels of communication.
The COE below gives an outlines of our organization’s actions over 2 years in support of the principles of UNGC.
Sincerely,
Jinfeng Zhou
Secretary General
China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation
Part II. Descriptions of Actions
China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) is a registered Non-Profit Organization, the only national academic society for biodiversity conservation and green development in China.
As China’s leading biodiversity organization today, CBCGDF was originated from the Milu Deer reintroduction in 1985.
CBCGDF has been committed to advocating ecological civilization, promoting green development, protecting biodiversity and ecological environment, and has made a series of significant achievements in innovation, research and science popularization.
CBCGDF encourages, empowers and enlightens people through campaigns, workshops/ conferences, environmental educations, and volunteer’s effort to ensure a sustainable use of natural resources, environmental protection and wildlife conservation. Our organization motivates people in all aspects of the society to become self-reliant, innovative and dynamic citizens.
Most of our approaches in implementing some of the sustainable development goals include the following.
1. Actively participate in UNEA and suggest that the United Nations commemorate Maurice Strong at its Stockholm conference in 2022.
CBCGDF suggested as follow: “On this 50th anniversary of Stockholm72, we wish to honor and respect the memory of its Secretary General, and UNEP’s first Executive Director Maurice Strong who was widely considered to be the driving force behind the success of the conference and it’s outcomes.”
2. Establishment of Community Conservation Area (CCAfa) all around China
In April 2016, CBCGDF proposed “Community Conservation Area” (CCAfa), which aims to conduct a targeted approach to protect endangered fauna and flora, historical sites and cultural relics. The CCAfa system is mostly driven by local governments, social organizations, NGOs, and most especially, members of the general public including volunteers.
Since the establishment of this program, over 188 CCAfa sites have been established all around China. A few examples of these projects include:
a) Community Conservation Area for Great bustard
b) Community Conservation Area for Acer Pentaphyllum Diel
c) Community Conservation Area for Relict gulls
d) Community Conservation Area for Dark Sky
e) Community Conservation Area for Snow leopard
f) Community Conservation Area for Wetland
g) Community Conservation Area for Coral
3. ESG Assessment Guidelines
Since 2016, CBCGDF has successively issued 30 Association Standards, including ESG Assessment Guidelines.
4. Green Bonds
CBCGDF actively advised and promoted the adoption of 17 of CBCGDF’s suggestions in The Green Bond Endorsed Projects Catalogue (2021 Edition) issued by the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) on 21 April 2021.
5. Ecological Belt and Roads (EBRs)
Based on the “Belt and Road” initiative (BRs), CBCGDF initiated “Ecological ‘Belt and Road’”(EBRs) and is committed to work with the people of each nation along the New Silk Road in collaboration with the UN and all others in the preservation of biological diversity and promotion of responsible development.
6. Promoted Green Consumption Rights and Corporate Green Responsibility
Green Consumption, also known as Sustainable Consumption, starts from meeting the needs of ecological and environmental protection, achieving harmony between humanity and nature, and promoting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It is a general term for all kinds of consumption behaviors and ways, with maintaining healthy and ecological environment protection as the primary connotation. The rights and interests of consumers include the rights of “green consumption”. However, there is no clear regulation in this regard. We call for an explicit provision on the “Green Consumption Right” in international law.
7. Join the International Conventions and Organizations
CBCGDF is a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a partner to the Convention on Migratory Species (UNEP/CMS) , a member of the Global Genome Biodiversity Network (GGBN), an observer to The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) , an observer to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) , a data publisher to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), an accredited organization to UN Environment, a member of CITES’ Standing Committee’s Intersessional Working Groups, an accredited observer of United Nation’s Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), a partner to the Global Footprint Network, a member of the Belt and Road Life Science Economy Alliance (LSEA), and a member of the Global Compact.
8. Put Forward to Biodiversity Conservation in Our Neighborhood (BCON)
Nature conservation and human activities do not need to be divided. Traditional thinking of biodiversity conservation cannot be successful because it divided people from nature. Conservation shall be taken during the human’s daily lives and in the process of production and consumption. It aims to promote effective conservation of biodiversity in areas where human activities are intensive, balance conservation and development, and synergize sustainable livelihoods and biodiversity conservation.
9. Proposed Human-based Solution (HbS)
Besides Nature-based Solutions (NbS), CBCGDF also promotes Human-based Solutions (HbS). People are the root of all problems. The significance and energy of human beings for environmental protection mobilization is huge, and only one person’s efforts can produce no small energy. Therefore, real environmental solutions should follow the “people-oriented” and human-based thinking, and this thinking is the foundation of protecting nature and sustainable development.
10. Safeguarding Environmental Right Through Environmental Public Interest Litigation (EPIL)
Environmental public interest litigation (EPIL) is legal action brought by social organizations on behalf of the public against activities leading to environmental pollution, ecological damage, and destruction to historic sites and cultural relics.
11. Attended international events/conferences:
Major events include:
a) In September, 2020, CBCGDF attend the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) webinar.
b) In February, 2021, CBCGDF took part in the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5.1) online. From 28 February – 2 March 2022, CBCGDF participated in UNEA-5.2 online.
c) In October, 2021, CBCGDF delegation went to Kunming, China to attend the first part od the United Nations Conference on Biological Diversity (CBD COP15). CBCGDF Media was authorized by CBD Secretariat to broadcast the whole UN Biodiversity Conference.
d) In September, 2021, CBCGDF delegation went to Marseille, France to attend the International Union for Conservation of Nature World Conservation Congress (IUCN WCC).
e) In October, 2021, CBCGDF delegation went to Glasgow, United Kingdom to attend Glasgow Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP26).
f) In June, 2021, CBCGDF attend the eighth session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES-8) online.
12. Organized Major Events
1) On 12 Augest, CBCGDF held the World Elephant Day: from Conflict to Coexistence Event, with the theme of “From conflict over resources to valuable allies in the fight against climate change: A new understanding of the importance of elephants.” The purpose of this conference is to promote international cooperation in elephant protection in the level of genes, species, and habitats. Promoting the synergy of protecting biodiversity and addressing climate change.
2) In October, CBCGDF held the 2021 Conference on Apes, Biodiversity and Climate. More than ten renowned experts from home and abroad participated in this conference to discuss how apes, a key species, can help humans mitigate climate change, value the ecosystem services they provide, and use this as a basis to promote greater concern and conservation for apes in society.......
Part III. Measurement of Outcomes:
The CBCGDF is one of China’s oldest independent Environmental NGO, with independent fundraising from high Level Corporation, individuals and government grants on project by project basis.
CBCGDF’s programs are established with an inherent participation from volunteers, local NGOs, local governments and the general public. This organization is an action-oriented organization and it has gotten lots of positive reactions from participants, businesses and other NGOs. We realize that our value to the planet and the United Nations Global Compact goals are not just based on present achievements but also based on what we plan to do in the future with an outstanding positive and productive impact to the environment.
In the future COE we intend to give more results on our future accomplishment. Some of our
successes and accomplishments over the years include:
1. Breakthrough in curbing illegal trade and consumption of pangolins,
2. Establishment of over 180 CCAfa sites all around the country for the conservation of plants, animals, cultural and historic relics and many others.
3. Community development and environmental education in local communities through our CCAfa, BCON, Civilization sites.
4. Safeguarding Environmental Justice in China through EPIL.
5. Establishment of the Ecological belt and Road initiatives (EBRs)
We are facing the global crisis--biodiversity loss, cimate change and public health. We need take concrete action to solve them. Public participation is a basic principle. It requires strengthening public awareness and education on the three crisis, actively guiding the participation of social groups and grassroots, strengthening information disclosure and public opinion supervision, and establishing an effective mechanism of community-wide participation in biodiversity conservation. By 2030, it is necessary to make the protection of biological diversity a conscious action of the public.
Through programs such as the CCAfa system, a citizen (civil communities based) driven approach to ensure the creation and quality of protected areas for the preservation of endangered animals, plants, cultural and historical heritage, scenic beauty, assets of great value to all rich and poor.