With developed countries mired in the global economic slowdown, placing tighter control on their budgets, developing countries are increasingly turning to new sources of financing to protect the environment, conserve their rich ecosystems, and end decades of reliance on the West. As emerging economies like India, China and Brazil become wealthier and more confident, there has been a rise in so-called South-South cooperation, in which developing countries provide each other economic and technical assistance. This article examines how South-South cooperation emerged in backroom negotiations at the 11th International Convention on Biodiversity (CBD-COP 11) in Hyderabad, India.