This document discusses the methodology used by the EU to track biodiversity-related expenses in its budget from 2014-2020. It summarizes that the EU has committed to tracking biodiversity spending to help further mainstream biodiversity into the budget. The methodology uses "Rio markers" to categorize spending into projects that support biodiversity conservation, sustainable use, and benefit-sharing. Data is presented showing billions of Euros allocated across several EU funds towards biodiversity-related objectives each year. The tracking system is identified as an effective tool for "green budgeting," and upcoming work is noted to adapt it for the next EU budget period and incorporate lessons learned.

1. Tracking biodiversity-related
expenses in the EU budget
Hélène PERIER
Biodiversity Unit
DG Environment
European Commission

2. Policy context
§ Previous EU policy commitments:
• 2011 Communication a 'Budget for Europe': 'to maximise
synergies between different policy objectives, a tracking procedure for
environment-related expenditure similar to that proposed for climate-
related expenditure is envisaged. As regards biodiversity, the 'Rio
markers' established by the OECD and already used by the
Commission for external instruments will be integrated in the existing
methodology for measuring performance used for EU programmes.'
• 7th EU Environmental Action Programme (2013): ‘Developing
and applying a system for reporting and tracking environment-related
expenditure in the EU budget, notably on climate change and
biodiversity, by 2014.’
§ CBD Financial reporting framework
§ European Green Deal Investment Plan
§ Next steps: EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030

3. Methodology
§ Method applied since 2014 – updated in 2017 - to
track biodiversity-related expenses in the EU budget
§ Both domestic and external instruments
§ Based on Rio markers (100%, 40%, 0%)
§ Biodiversity expenditures include activities that
support:
• The conservation and restoration of biodiversity (ecosystems,
species, and genetic diversity) and the maintenance of related
ecosystem services;
• The sustainable use and management of biodiversity and ecosystems
(including activities within agriculture, forestry, fisheries and other
sectors); and
• The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits of the utilisation of
genetic resources, with benefits to the conservation, sustainable use
and management of biodiversity and ecosystem services.

4. 2014-2020 domestic financial flows
Currency: mil
EUR
EAFRD EAGF ERDF CF EMFF LIFE H2020 Copernicus Total selected funds
2014 1561,00 3316,00 512,50 673,90 129,70 195,10 354,00 64,50 6.806,7
2015 5383,00 3273,00 998,00 860,60 132,50 217,10 252,60 97,30 11.214,1
2016 5532,00 6030,00 808,10 839,30 131,60 227,60 392,20 98,90 14.059,7
2017 4253,00 5795,00 878,40 804,60 136,80 242,80 159,60 107,80 12.378,0
2018 4266,00 5856,00 903,50 834,80 136,70 266,00 434,10 102,00 12.799,1
2019
(estimat
es)
4250,00 5838,00 930,60 865,40 138,00 282,60 612,10 104,50 13.021,2
2020
(estimat
es)
4241,00 6112,00 956,50 894,90 140,70 295,00 567,00 102,50 13.309,6
Total
29486,0
0
36220,00 5987,60 5773,50 946,00 1726,20 2771,60 677,50 83588,40
% of
total
35,28 43,33 7,16 6,91 1,13 2,07 3,32 0,81

5. Conclusion and next steps
§ Effective tool in further advancing the mainstreaming
of biodiversity into the EU budget: green budgeting
§ Allows for accounting for measures with multiple
objectives, co-benefits of e.g. climate action for
biodiversity
§ Recognising ‘grey areas’ e.g. fisheries, agriculture,
forestry, water and pollution mitigation
§ Upcoming update of tracking system:
• Adapt to the next EU budget 2021-2027
• Ex post tracking to get feedback and improve ex ante methodology
• European Court of Auditors reports (e.g. upcoming on agriculture)
• Private investments leveraged under InvestEU?

6. For more information:
https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/biodiversity/financing_en.htm
Thank you for your attention