Beyond the specific business engagement decisions, business interests are explicitly referred to in both the Convention’s text such as article 10 and 16, as well as in many COP decisions adopted over the years. Many of the Convention's Programmes of Work are also of direct relevance to business. These include Forestry, Marine and Coastal Biodiversity, Climate Change, Economics, Trade and Incentive Measures and Innovative Financial Mechanisms and Resource Mobilization and Agriculture .

In decision X/2, the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties adopted a revised and updated Strategic Plan for Biodiversity, including the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, for the 2011-2020 period. This new plan will be the overarching framework on biodiversity, not only for the biodiversity-related conventions, but for the entire United Nations system. The tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties agreed to translate this overarching international framework into National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans within two years.

COP 10 adopted the 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets to be achieved by year 2020. These targets, organized under five strategic goals, address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss, reducing the pressures on biodiversity, safeguarding biodiversity at all levels, enhancing the benefits provided by biodiversity, and providing capacity-building. Among the targets, COP 10 agreed to:

• At least halve and where feasible bring close to zero the rate of loss of natural habitats including forests
• Protect 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water areas and 10 per cent of marine and coastal areas
• Restore at least 15 per cent of degraded areas
• Make special efforts to reduce the pressures faced by coral reefs.

As mandated by COP 12 (decision XII/10/3d) the Secretariat is undertaking a project to create a business case which will explain the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, as well as preparing guidelines for recommended actions that businesses can take to help in their achievement. More information on this project can be found at https://www.cbd.int/business/projects/aichibus.shtml.