Congress Urges Senate to Ratify 30-Year-Old Biodiversity Treaty: What It Means for U.S. Influence

This Concurrent Resolution is essentially Congress telling the Senate, "Hey, remember that huge international agreement we signed back in 1993 about protecting nature? It’s time we actually made it official." Specifically, this resolution calls for the Senate to provide its "advice and consent" to ratify the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

The Seat at the Table: Why Ratification Matters

Right now, the U.S. is one of the few countries that hasn't fully ratified the CBD. We’re like the person who RSVP’d to the party but is stuck watching from the parking lot. The resolution points out that even though federal agencies already follow many of the CBD’s goals, the U.S. is limited to being an observer, not a full member. This means we don't get a vote in the decisions and rules being made by the Convention, even though those decisions can affect our national security and economy.

Think of it this way: The CBD sets global standards for everything from protecting endangered species to regulating access to genetic resources. If the U.S. remains outside, other countries are setting the rules for conservation and resource management that U.S. companies and scientists eventually have to navigate. By ratifying the treaty, the U.S. would gain a full voting seat, allowing it to directly influence global policy, ensuring those rules better reflect American interests and scientific leadership. For busy people, this is about ensuring the U.S. is actively shaping—not just reacting to—global environmental policy.

The Real-World Impact on Business and Science

The resolution highlights the global crisis of species extinction, noting that almost a million species are at risk. While joining the treaty is good for the planet, it also has practical implications for industries. The CBD deals with the use of biological resources, which impacts sectors like pharmaceuticals, agriculture, and biotechnology. Once the U.S. is officially bound by the treaty, it will likely lead to more alignment between U.S. domestic regulations and international standards.

For example, if you’re a biotech researcher relying on international genetic material, full U.S. participation could streamline access or, conversely, introduce new compliance requirements related to sharing benefits with the source country. The resolution frames this as an opportunity for the U.S. to reclaim its role as a leader in conservation science and funding. However, it’s worth noting that becoming a full member means accepting the responsibilities, which might include new constraints or costs for industries whose current operations might not fully align with the CBD’s goals, though the resolution itself doesn't mandate those changes—it just opens the door for them.

The Upshot: Influence vs. Independence

This resolution is purely a procedural step, urging the Senate to act on a three-decade-old agreement. It doesn’t instantly change any U.S. law, but it signals that Congress believes the cost of sitting on the sidelines—losing influence over global policy—is now greater than the cost of joining. For the average American, this means the U.S. government would be better positioned to negotiate outcomes on global environmental issues that ultimately affect everything from trade policies to the long-term health of shared resources.