Information for 17084IIED
Equitable benefit-sharing or self-interest?
Opinion paper, 2 pages
A legally binding protocol on access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing is to be adopted by the 193 governments that are party to the Convention on Biological Diversity in October 2010 in Nagoya, Japan. The protocol aims to ensure that the benefits derived from the use of genetic resources are shared fairly and equitably with biodiversity-rich but financially poor countries. This could help reverse the rapid loss of biodiversity and genetic
resources. But unless governments make some major progress in their final negotiating session, the protocol will make little difference.