Pathways for transformative change in biodiversity politics: Examining the significance of the Global Biodiversity Framework’s ‘Considerations’

This paper examines the ‘Considerations’ that are intended to underpin the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). With so little time to meet the 2030 mission of transforming conservation approaches and curbing biodiversity decline, we reflect on the opportunities the Considerations present for transformative governance in biodiversity conservation. We discuss how contrasting worldviews and foundations of knowledge shape the Considerations, and inform the Framework more broadly, and highlight where areas of ambiguity between anthropocentric and nature-centred approaches arise. We contend that if the global community is to meaningfully change the trajectory of species extinctions and biodiversity loss, transformative changes are needed in the values held and expressed towards nature in political, economic, and social spheres. We conclude by suggesting implementation tools and processes to help foster the meaningful integration of the more boundary-pushing Considerations in wider biodiversity governance and practice.