Positive incentives in place to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable use
The total number of positive incentives in place is the sum of the number of instruments listed below (that are active, i.e., in force):
Countries reporting to PINE could extract data directly from the PINE and those not providing data to PINE could complete this based on simple guidance (see next section).Countries would report on number of active instruments per year from 2020-30.
2024-03-28 12:00:00 UTC
N/A
Headline indicator for Target 18: Identify by 2025, and eliminate, phase out or reform incentives, including subsidies, harmful for biodiversity, in a proportionate, just, fair, effective and equitable way, while substantially and progressively reducing them by at least $500 billion per year by 2030, starting with the most harmful incentives, and scale up positive incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
Positive incentives for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use (also referred to as economic instruments or incentive-based mechanisms) are policy instruments that provide signals to consumers and producers to behave in a more sustainable manner. In economic terms, they serve to internalise externalities associated with the use of biodiversity. Positive incentives include biodiversity-relevant taxes, fees and charges (e.g. pesticide tax, protected area fees, water abstraction charges), biodiversity-positive subsidies, tradable permit schemes (e.g. fisheries individual transferable quotas), biodiversity offsets and payments for ecosystem services. These positive incentives are key to mainstreaming biodiversity across sectors (e.g., agriculture, forestry, fisheries) and serve to reflect the true value of biodiversity in economic decision-making. They provide continuous incentives to both consumers and producers to behave in a more environmentally sustainable way. Additionally, positive incentives also help to mobilise private sector finance for biodiversity. Several of these positive incentives also generate revenue for governments (e.g., biodiversity-relevant taxes, fees and charges, and tradable permits if auctioned). If this revenue is then earmarked for biodiversity, they also serve to mobilise public sector finance for biodiversity.
Positive incentives (also referred to as incentive-based or economic instruments) are the set of fiscal and other economic incentives to incorporate biodiversity-related costs and benefits into production and consumption. They are the policy instruments that use price signals to discourage activities harmful to biodiversity (e.g., a tax on pollution) or encourage activities that benefit biodiversity (e.g., payments for ecosystem services). In contrast to more traditional command-and-control approaches (e.g., restrictions on access or use, standards, etc), economic instruments can, in theory, meet a given environmental objective at a lower total economic cost.
OECD collects national level data on positive incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. These incentives are also referred to as economic instruments or incentive-based instruments. The data are collected through the OECD database on Policy Instruments for the Environment (PINE). The data meet the headline indicator criteria (i.e., they can be aggregated globally from national level data and can be disaggregated down from totals, as the data are reported in a consistent and comparable way across countries). The positive incentives covered are:
The data on positive incentives collected via the OECD PINE database covers:
The OECD Secretariat manages the database and ensures consistency in the way data are classified (incl. compliance with definitions and internationally agreed classifications) and undertakes quality checks.
The questionnaire, data structure, and typology and definitions of instruments can be found on the ‘About’ section of the PINE database website available at: http://oe.cd/pinedatabase
The data on monetary value of positive incentives (revenues or payments) is reported in millions of local currency per year in current prices. For biodiversity offsets this could include private transactions for example when purchasing offsets through biobanking, payments for one-off offsets and payments to government if payment in lieu scheme.
Information is available by country at the individual policy instrument level. Dashboards aggregated up to the global level are also presented in the data dissemination portal. Data on biodiversity-related economic instruments (positive incentives) are presented and analysed in OECD reports on “Tracking Economic Instruments and Finance for Biodiversity” which is updated on a regular basis. The latest release was in 2021, with the next update to take place in 2024.
All countries are welcome to contribute to the OECD PINE database. Currently more than 130 countries have contributed. can provide information to PINE. Countries may either use the data in PINE to report to the CBD or provide data directly to the CBD from their national reporting systems. Countries are encouraged to establish national systems for collecting data on positive incentives for biodiversity.
Data on positive incentives for biodiversity, reported via the OECD PINE database are collected via a network of 450+ registered country experts from government agencies (Ministries of Finance and Environment, statistical institutes) as well as research institutes and international organisations. Data are collected regularly for OECD members, accession countries and OECD key partners. A growing number of non-member countries also contribute data to PINE. The OECD also conducts targeted data collection initiatives to expand the coverage of countries and update the information. Currently the PINE database includes information from 134 countries (~70% of Parties to the CBD).
Registered experts are asked to update data at least once a year, typically in January or February, through an online password-protected interface. Country experts register to access the database.
The PINE data are publicly available on the OECD website. See http://oe.cd/pinedatabase
The PINE data can be accessed:
The data analysis for the indicators on biodiversity-relevant positive incentives is undertaken by extracting the relevant information in the PINE database for the biodiversity environmental domain.
The methodology has been approved by OECD delegates.
Data come mainly from government agencies (e.g. Ministries of Finance and Environment; statistical institutes) as well as research institutes and international organisations. See section 5c for further detail.
Data is available from 1980-present. Updated annually.
Data on positive incentives for biodiversity are available from 1980-present for 134 countries and are updated annually. OECD’s Tracking Economic Instruments and Finance reports (updated regularly, for example in 2019, 2020 and 2021) summarises and analyses the biodiversity-related instruments in the PINE database (next update forthcoming 2024). The annually updated data is publicly accessible on the OECD PINE website.
Data providers are a network of 450+ registered country experts from government agencies (Ministries of Finance and Environment, statistical institutes) as well as research institutes and international organisations. Data are collected systematically for OECD members as well as the active OECD accession countries. A growing number of non-member countries also provide information. Registered experts are asked to update data at least once a year, typically in January or February, through a password-protected interface. All countries are welcome to contribute data to the OECD PINE database.
Countries can also provide data directly to CBD.
The OECD Secretariat is responsible for collecting and harmonising the data. Data validation is undertaken by the OECD Secretariat in collaboration with the reporting countries.
The OECD PINE database includes data from 134 countries (and is expanding over time). The data collection method may result in some reporting bias, as OECD members and active accession countries are likely to report data more regularly. All figures should be interpreted in this context. Data updates for countries may be delayed due to staff changes in the national teams providing the information. As the instrument categories on ‘payments for ecosystem services’ and on ‘biodiversity offsets’ were introduced into the PINE database in 2023, the data for these two types of positive incentives is likely to be less comprehensive than for the other types of positive incentives. It is expected that reporting on these two new instruments will improve over time. All countries are welcome to contribute to the PINE database.
If data on positive incentives are missing, they may be imputed from other international data platforms where appropriate (e.g., EUROSTATOECD Revenue Statistics).
Scale of application: Global, Regional,National
Scale of data disaggregation/aggregation:
Global/ regional scale indicator can be disaggregated to national level: Yes
National data is collated to form global indicator: Yes
Additional information: Data on positive incentives are collected at national level. Countries can specify whether the policy instrument is applied nationally or sub-nationally. National data can therefore be collated to provide global indicators (e.g., total number of countries with biodiversity-relevant taxes [over time]; total number of biodiversity-relevant taxes [over time], etc).
All data are publicly available online on the OECD PINE website. The database is overseen by the OECD Working Party on Environmental Information (WPEI) under the OECD Environmental Policy Committee, and the Joint Meeting of Tax and Environment Experts (JMTEE). The biodiversity-relevant data can be viewed by searching for environmental domain: “biodiversity”. The OECD Secretariat also regularly updates the analysis on “Tracking Economic Instruments and Finance for Biodiversity” to facilitate user-friendliness and to highlight policy-relevant messages.
All data in PINE are provided by governments and academics (if the latter then data is validated by national governments before it is placed on the publicly available OECD PINE website). Divergence between nationally produced data and international data may occur if there are discrepancies in the way instruments are categorised in national data sets and in PINE. Some countries provide more comprehensive information than others.
6d.1 Description of the methodology
Data is reported at country level
6d.2 Additional methodological details
6d.3 Description of the mechanism for collecting data from countries
Data are reported via an annual questionnaire (at an instrument level) by national statistical agencies, ministries of finance, environment, etc.
The data is used as an indicator for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15.a.1 on biodiversity finance.
Yes
The indicator on positive incentives for biodiversity can be disaggregated by type of instrument (biodiversity-relevant tax, fee or charge; biodiversity-positive subsidy; tradable permit; PES; biodiversity offset), by geographic location, by industry concerned. Etc .. see below.
The OECD PINE database also collects information on:
Aligning price signals through positive incentives is fundamental for resource mobilisation (target 19). Positive incentives such as PES, biodiversity offsets and subsidies also disburse finance for biodiversity, while biodiversity-relevant taxes can generate revenue which can (if desired) be earmarked for biodiversity. In addition, Target 19.4 explicitly refers to certain types of positive incentives (i.e., payments for ecosystem services and biodiversity offsets).
Target 19 Substantially and progressively increase the level of financial resources from all sources, in an effective, timely and easily accessible manner, including domestic, international, public and private resources, in accordance with Article 20 of the Convention, to implement national biodiversity strategies and action plans, mobilizing at least $200 billion per year by 2030....
19.2. Significantly increasing domestic resource mobilization, facilitated by the preparation and implementation of national biodiversity finance plans or similar instruments according to national needs, priorities and circumstances;
19.3. Leveraging private finance, promoting blended finance, implementing strategies for raising new and additional resources, and encouraging the private sector to invest in biodiversity, including through impact funds and other instruments;
19.4. Stimulating innovative schemes such as payment for ecosystem services, green bonds, biodiversity offsets and credits, and benefit sharing mechanisms, with environmental and social safeguards;
Target 14: Fully integrate biodiversity values into policies, regulations [...] aligning all relevant public and private activities, fiscal and financial flows with the goals and targets of this framework
Goal D: The gap between available financial and other means of implementation, and those necessary to achieve the 2050 Vision, is closed
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (Environment Directorate)
Katia Karousakis katia.karousakis@oecd.org and Miguel Cardenas Rodriguez Miguel.CARDENASRODRIGUEZ@oecd.org
On positive incentives (economic instruments) for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use: OECD 2021, Tracking Economic Instruments and Finance for Biodiversity - 2021.
OECD 2023, Policy Instruments for the Environment (PINE) Database, http://oe.cd/pine , June 2023 version.
Positive incentives in place to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable use
The total number of positive incentives in place is the sum of the number of instruments listed below (that are active, i.e., in force):
Countries reporting to PINE could extract data directly from the PINE and those not providing data to PINE could complete this based on simple guidance (see next section).Countries would report on number of active instruments per year from 2020-30.
2024-03-28 12:00:00 UTC
N/A
Headline indicator for Target 18: Identify by 2025, and eliminate, phase out or reform incentives, including subsidies, harmful for biodiversity, in a proportionate, just, fair, effective and equitable way, while substantially and progressively reducing them by at least $500 billion per year by 2030, starting with the most harmful incentives, and scale up positive incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
Positive incentives for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use (also referred to as economic instruments or incentive-based mechanisms) are policy instruments that provide signals to consumers and producers to behave in a more sustainable manner. In economic terms, they serve to internalise externalities associated with the use of biodiversity. Positive incentives include biodiversity-relevant taxes, fees and charges (e.g. pesticide tax, protected area fees, water abstraction charges), biodiversity-positive subsidies, tradable permit schemes (e.g. fisheries individual transferable quotas), biodiversity offsets and payments for ecosystem services. These positive incentives are key to mainstreaming biodiversity across sectors (e.g., agriculture, forestry, fisheries) and serve to reflect the true value of biodiversity in economic decision-making. They provide continuous incentives to both consumers and producers to behave in a more environmentally sustainable way. Additionally, positive incentives also help to mobilise private sector finance for biodiversity. Several of these positive incentives also generate revenue for governments (e.g., biodiversity-relevant taxes, fees and charges, and tradable permits if auctioned). If this revenue is then earmarked for biodiversity, they also serve to mobilise public sector finance for biodiversity.
Positive incentives (also referred to as incentive-based or economic instruments) are the set of fiscal and other economic incentives to incorporate biodiversity-related costs and benefits into production and consumption. They are the policy instruments that use price signals to discourage activities harmful to biodiversity (e.g., a tax on pollution) or encourage activities that benefit biodiversity (e.g., payments for ecosystem services). In contrast to more traditional command-and-control approaches (e.g., restrictions on access or use, standards, etc), economic instruments can, in theory, meet a given environmental objective at a lower total economic cost.
OECD collects national level data on positive incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. These incentives are also referred to as economic instruments or incentive-based instruments. The data are collected through the OECD database on Policy Instruments for the Environment (PINE). The data meet the headline indicator criteria (i.e., they can be aggregated globally from national level data and can be disaggregated down from totals, as the data are reported in a consistent and comparable way across countries). The positive incentives covered are:
The data on positive incentives collected via the OECD PINE database covers:
The OECD Secretariat manages the database and ensures consistency in the way data are classified (incl. compliance with definitions and internationally agreed classifications) and undertakes quality checks.
The questionnaire, data structure, and typology and definitions of instruments can be found on the ‘About’ section of the PINE database website available at: http://oe.cd/pinedatabase
The data on monetary value of positive incentives (revenues or payments) is reported in millions of local currency per year in current prices. For biodiversity offsets this could include private transactions for example when purchasing offsets through biobanking, payments for one-off offsets and payments to government if payment in lieu scheme.
Information is available by country at the individual policy instrument level. Dashboards aggregated up to the global level are also presented in the data dissemination portal. Data on biodiversity-related economic instruments (positive incentives) are presented and analysed in OECD reports on “Tracking Economic Instruments and Finance for Biodiversity” which is updated on a regular basis. The latest release was in 2021, with the next update to take place in 2024.
All countries are welcome to contribute to the OECD PINE database. Currently more than 130 countries have contributed. can provide information to PINE. Countries may either use the data in PINE to report to the CBD or provide data directly to the CBD from their national reporting systems. Countries are encouraged to establish national systems for collecting data on positive incentives for biodiversity.
Data on positive incentives for biodiversity, reported via the OECD PINE database are collected via a network of 450+ registered country experts from government agencies (Ministries of Finance and Environment, statistical institutes) as well as research institutes and international organisations. Data are collected regularly for OECD members, accession countries and OECD key partners. A growing number of non-member countries also contribute data to PINE. The OECD also conducts targeted data collection initiatives to expand the coverage of countries and update the information. Currently the PINE database includes information from 134 countries (~70% of Parties to the CBD).
Registered experts are asked to update data at least once a year, typically in January or February, through an online password-protected interface. Country experts register to access the database.
The PINE data are publicly available on the OECD website. See http://oe.cd/pinedatabase
The PINE data can be accessed:
The data analysis for the indicators on biodiversity-relevant positive incentives is undertaken by extracting the relevant information in the PINE database for the biodiversity environmental domain.
The methodology has been approved by OECD delegates.
Data come mainly from government agencies (e.g. Ministries of Finance and Environment; statistical institutes) as well as research institutes and international organisations. See section 5c for further detail.
Data is available from 1980-present. Updated annually.
Data on positive incentives for biodiversity are available from 1980-present for 134 countries and are updated annually. OECD’s Tracking Economic Instruments and Finance reports (updated regularly, for example in 2019, 2020 and 2021) summarises and analyses the biodiversity-related instruments in the PINE database (next update forthcoming 2024). The annually updated data is publicly accessible on the OECD PINE website.
Data providers are a network of 450+ registered country experts from government agencies (Ministries of Finance and Environment, statistical institutes) as well as research institutes and international organisations. Data are collected systematically for OECD members as well as the active OECD accession countries. A growing number of non-member countries also provide information. Registered experts are asked to update data at least once a year, typically in January or February, through a password-protected interface. All countries are welcome to contribute data to the OECD PINE database.
Countries can also provide data directly to CBD.
The OECD Secretariat is responsible for collecting and harmonising the data. Data validation is undertaken by the OECD Secretariat in collaboration with the reporting countries.
The OECD PINE database includes data from 134 countries (and is expanding over time). The data collection method may result in some reporting bias, as OECD members and active accession countries are likely to report data more regularly. All figures should be interpreted in this context. Data updates for countries may be delayed due to staff changes in the national teams providing the information. As the instrument categories on ‘payments for ecosystem services’ and on ‘biodiversity offsets’ were introduced into the PINE database in 2023, the data for these two types of positive incentives is likely to be less comprehensive than for the other types of positive incentives. It is expected that reporting on these two new instruments will improve over time. All countries are welcome to contribute to the PINE database.
If data on positive incentives are missing, they may be imputed from other international data platforms where appropriate (e.g., EUROSTATOECD Revenue Statistics).
Scale of application: Global, Regional,National
Scale of data disaggregation/aggregation:
Global/ regional scale indicator can be disaggregated to national level: Yes
National data is collated to form global indicator: Yes
Additional information: Data on positive incentives are collected at national level. Countries can specify whether the policy instrument is applied nationally or sub-nationally. National data can therefore be collated to provide global indicators (e.g., total number of countries with biodiversity-relevant taxes [over time]; total number of biodiversity-relevant taxes [over time], etc).
All data are publicly available online on the OECD PINE website. The database is overseen by the OECD Working Party on Environmental Information (WPEI) under the OECD Environmental Policy Committee, and the Joint Meeting of Tax and Environment Experts (JMTEE). The biodiversity-relevant data can be viewed by searching for environmental domain: “biodiversity”. The OECD Secretariat also regularly updates the analysis on “Tracking Economic Instruments and Finance for Biodiversity” to facilitate user-friendliness and to highlight policy-relevant messages.
All data in PINE are provided by governments and academics (if the latter then data is validated by national governments before it is placed on the publicly available OECD PINE website). Divergence between nationally produced data and international data may occur if there are discrepancies in the way instruments are categorised in national data sets and in PINE. Some countries provide more comprehensive information than others.
6d.1 Description of the methodology
Data is reported at country level
6d.2 Additional methodological details
6d.3 Description of the mechanism for collecting data from countries
Data are reported via an annual questionnaire (at an instrument level) by national statistical agencies, ministries of finance, environment, etc.
The data is used as an indicator for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15.a.1 on biodiversity finance.
Yes
The indicator on positive incentives for biodiversity can be disaggregated by type of instrument (biodiversity-relevant tax, fee or charge; biodiversity-positive subsidy; tradable permit; PES; biodiversity offset), by geographic location, by industry concerned. Etc .. see below.
The OECD PINE database also collects information on:
Aligning price signals through positive incentives is fundamental for resource mobilisation (target 19). Positive incentives such as PES, biodiversity offsets and subsidies also disburse finance for biodiversity, while biodiversity-relevant taxes can generate revenue which can (if desired) be earmarked for biodiversity. In addition, Target 19.4 explicitly refers to certain types of positive incentives (i.e., payments for ecosystem services and biodiversity offsets).
Target 19 Substantially and progressively increase the level of financial resources from all sources, in an effective, timely and easily accessible manner, including domestic, international, public and private resources, in accordance with Article 20 of the Convention, to implement national biodiversity strategies and action plans, mobilizing at least $200 billion per year by 2030....
19.2. Significantly increasing domestic resource mobilization, facilitated by the preparation and implementation of national biodiversity finance plans or similar instruments according to national needs, priorities and circumstances;
19.3. Leveraging private finance, promoting blended finance, implementing strategies for raising new and additional resources, and encouraging the private sector to invest in biodiversity, including through impact funds and other instruments;
19.4. Stimulating innovative schemes such as payment for ecosystem services, green bonds, biodiversity offsets and credits, and benefit sharing mechanisms, with environmental and social safeguards;
Target 14: Fully integrate biodiversity values into policies, regulations [...] aligning all relevant public and private activities, fiscal and financial flows with the goals and targets of this framework
Goal D: The gap between available financial and other means of implementation, and those necessary to achieve the 2050 Vision, is closed
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (Environment Directorate)
Katia Karousakis katia.karousakis@oecd.org and Miguel Cardenas Rodriguez Miguel.CARDENASRODRIGUEZ@oecd.org
On positive incentives (economic instruments) for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use: OECD 2021, Tracking Economic Instruments and Finance for Biodiversity - 2021.
OECD 2023, Policy Instruments for the Environment (PINE) Database, http://oe.cd/pine , June 2023 version.
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