Opened for signature at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro and entering into force in December 1993, the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity is an international agreement aimed at the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources. The Convention currently has 195 Parties and the European Union, and its Secretariat is located in Montreal.

The Convention seeks to address all threats to biodiversity and ecosystem services, including those arising from climate change, through scientific assessments and the development of tools, incentives, and processes, as well as through the transfer of technology and best practices, with the full and effective participation of all relevant stakeholders, including indigenous peoples, youth, women, the business community, and NGOs.

The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing are supplementary agreements to the Convention. Adopted on 29 January 2000 and entering into force on 11 September 2003, the Cartagena Protocol aims to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology. To date, 173 countries, including Türkiye, have ratified the Cartagena Protocol.

The Nagoya Protocol aims to ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources, including through access to genetic resources and the transfer of relevant technologies. Adopted on 29 October 2010 and entering into force on 12 October 2014, the Nagoya Protocol has so far been ratified by 142 countries.

Further information on the CBD Secretariat and activities carried out under the Convention is available on the website of the Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat www.cbd.int