Quote from Alex bobby on October 19, 2024, 10:46 AM

Pressure grows for nations to deliver on promised biodiversity targets at UN conference

Two years after a historic biodiversity agreement was signed, countries will reconvene next week to assess their progress in saving the planet’s plant and animal life. This agreement, signed by 196 countries at the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15), set an ambitious goal: to protect 30% of the Earth’s land and water by 2030, a target known as "30 by 30." At the time of signing, 17% of terrestrial and 10% of marine areas were protected. Unfortunately, those numbers have seen little change since then.

The upcoming COP16 conference, which will be held in Cali, Colombia, will focus on reviewing the progress made toward these goals and deciding on mechanisms to ensure they are implemented effectively. A report from the European Parliament highlights that this meeting will also address the crucial issue of funding — countries will discuss how to raise the hundreds of billions of dollars needed to protect nature by 2030, with $20 billion due for developing countries next year. Additionally, 23 specific targets, such as reducing food waste and curbing the introduction of invasive species, will be on the agenda.

Signs of Progress Remain Limited

Despite the historic commitments made in 2022, progress toward the "30 by 30" goals has been slow. Nearly half of the participating countries have yet to submit national plans detailing how they will achieve their targets. Only about 46% of countries have submitted their biodiversity targets, and less than 15% have submitted actionable plans to meet them. Notable omissions include Australia, which has not submitted its targets, and Brazil, home to much of the Amazon rainforest, which has yet to submit either targets or a plan. India has also not submitted a national plan, while the United States, though not a signatory to the convention, has pledged to protect one-third of its land and waters by 2030 under the Biden administration’s initiative.

Some countries plan to use the COP16 conference to announce the creation or expansion of protected areas and how they will allocate biodiversity funding. Canada, for example, has committed $800 million to four Indigenous-led conservation projects. However, conservation groups like WWF remain concerned about the lack of detailed biodiversity goals from many nations. Bernadette Fischler Hooper, WWF International’s head of global advocacy, described the commitments as "disappointing," noting that many plans lack clear actions, sufficient funding, and broad governmental support.

As of the 91 countries that have submitted their targets, over half have committed to protecting at least 30% of their terrestrial areas, and about a quarter have set targets of between 5% and 30%. For marine areas, a third of the countries have committed to a target of 30% or more, while another third have set lower, intermediate targets.

Addressing Biodiversity Loss is Urgent

The biodiversity plans that countries must submit are complex, requiring coordination across various governmental and non-governmental entities, including ministries, businesses, and community stakeholders. Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, explained that while the submission process has been slow, it is not surprising given the complexity and scope of the plans. Governments must develop detailed targets and action plans and coordinate efforts, which is no easy task.

These goals are crucial for species, particularly migratory ones, which are often affected by habitat fragmentation. According to a U.N. report, more than 40% of migratory species are in decline. Jennifer George, who leads the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership, emphasized that birds and other migratory species do not recognize the boundaries of protected areas and move according to their needs, making international cooperation vital.

The Funding Challenge

One of the most contentious topics at the conference will be financing the conservation efforts. Developing nations have been advocating for $200 billion annually by 2030 to support biodiversity-related projects, with rich countries pledging $20 billion starting next year. That amount is expected to gradually increase to $30 billion by 2030.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) reported that development finance for biodiversity more than doubled from 2015 to 2022. Despite this progress, global biodiversity funding is still short of the $20 billion target by 23%. Much of the biodiversity that needs protecting is located in developing countries, particularly in Africa, where limited financial resources hinder efforts. Advocates argue that securing adequate funding will be critical to achieving these goals.

Beyond "30 by 30"

In addition to the "30 by 30" goal, the conference will address other important biodiversity targets. One such goal is to halt human-induced extinctions of threatened species by 2050 and to significantly reduce extinction rates. Conservationists, however, have raised concerns that some of these goals lack specificity. Stuart Pimm, an ecologist at Duke University, noted that goals like stopping species extinctions need to be more clearly defined and quantified.

The COP16 meeting will also explore the role of biodiversity in mitigating climate change and in promoting global health, particularly in preventing future pandemics. Another key issue will be the adoption of a global mechanism to ensure fair distribution of benefits from genetic data derived from plants, animals, and microorganisms, which are often used to develop commercial products such as pharmaceuticals.

As the world faces unprecedented challenges in conserving its biodiversity, the COP16 conference represents a critical opportunity for countries to come together, report on progress, and take bold actions to preserve Earth’s plant and animal life. However, without concrete plans, funding, and international cooperation, these ambitious goals may remain out of reach.