FSI Discusses Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

Mr. Jaecian Onoh A. Cesar discusses the basics of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF)

MANILA 02 July 2025 — The Foreign Service Institute’s (FSI) Center for International Relations and Strategic Studies (CIRSS) hosted the Breakfast Conversations with CIRSS on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), a landmark global agreement to address biodiversity loss on 24 June 2025.

The discussion was led by CIRSS research officer Mr. Jaecian Onoh A. Cesar from the Institute’s Biodiversity Studies and Special Projects Section. Mr. Cesar provided an overview of the KMGBF, which was adopted in December 2022 and aims to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030. He detailed the framework’s four main goals and 23 action-oriented targets, which are significant for a megadiverse country such as the Philippines. A central component of the framework is the “30 by 30” target, which calls for the conservation of 30 percent of the world’s land, waters, and seas by 2030.

Mr. Cesar connected the KMGBF to the core pillars of Philippine foreign policy. He noted that biodiversity conservation is integral to national security, particularly in resource-rich domains such as the West Philippine Sea. He also explained its link to economic security, as many of the country's key industries and a significant portion of the global economy rely  on natural resources. Furthermore, he discussed the framework’s relevance to promoting soft power and championing the rights and well-being of Filipinos, especially in the context of climate justice and sustainable development.

Mr. Cesar stated that a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach is necessary for the Philippines to effectively implement the KMGBF. He pointed to the need for greater interagency collaboration, sustained public awareness campaigns, and strong political will, particularly at the local level.

During the open forum, researchers and interns from FSI and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) discussed challenges and opportunities for the Philippines. Key themes included the importance of integrating indigenous peoples’ traditional knowledge into conservation strategies, the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources, and using public diplomacy to build a national consensus on biodiversity protection.

Breakfast Conversations with CIRSS is an informal dialogue on the various thematic research areas of FSI. It serves as a platform for sharing knowledge and synergizing efforts with the Institute’s researchers, DFA personnel, and other stakeholders.

FSI is the training and research agency attached to the DFA, created by Presidential Decree No. 1060. Its remit was expanded under Republic Act No. 7157. The FSI Board is chaired by the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, with the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), Director General of FSI, President of the University of the Philippines (UP), and President of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) as members. END

FSI and DFA interns join FSI researchers in the event

Mr. Cesar stated that a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach is necessary for the Philippines to effectively implement the KMGBF