When action in one area ignores the others, it can cause new problems — for example, a climate-driven reforestation project that ignores local biodiversity could harm habitats, or an agricultural plan that boosts yields might degrade soil and release carbon.
By working in synergy, the Conventions ensure that efforts in one area reinforce, rather than undermine, progress in another.
Synergies are the additional benefits and greater impact achieved when actions for climate, biodiversity and land are planned and implemented together. They mean breaking down operational silos, aligning national strategies, sharing data, harmonizing reporting and designing projects that deliver multiple gains — such as restoring land that also stores carbon, supports species and improves livelihoods. This integrated approach reduces costs, improves efficiency and attracts more funding.
The Conventions coordinate through shared science, joint policy advice, capacity-building and collaborative financing. Key entry points include:
The world’s population is expected to reach 10 billion by 2050, while 40 per cent of land is degraded, pollinators decline and three in four people could face drought by mid-century. Only by working together can we secure food and water, protect nature and build a climate-resilient future.
Synergies are not an option — they are essential. They allow the Rio Conventions to address our shared planetary crisis more effectively, more efficiently and more equitably, ensuring that solutions are mutually reinforcing and leave no one behind.
