UN Publish Draft Plan to Halt Biodiversity Crisis

The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has published a draft version of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework which aims to reverse biodiversity decline and increase resilience of ecosystems.

The proposal aims to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 and achieve recovery of at least 20% of natural ecosystems by 2050 by calling for at least 30% of land and sea areas to be protected by “effective area-based conservation measures“, with 10% under strict protection. The framework also proposes a 50% reduction in the rate of new invasive species introductions by 2030 and targets to eliminate or control their impacts in priority areas.

A key part of the proposal is the use of nature-based solutions for adaptation to, and mitigation of, climate change and clean water provision. The framwork is also linked to the 2015 Paris Agreement, with a goal for nature to contribute “at least 30% of efforts to achieve the targets of the Paris Agreement in 2030 and 2050“.

The vision of the Framework is: “By 2050, biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people.”

The plan calls for the integration of biodiversity values into national and local planning and for a reform of economic sectors to reduce the impacts on biodiversity.

This draft framework will be considered and is expected to be adopted at the CBD Conference of Parties in Kunming, China this October. The targets agreed at this summit will replace the 2020 biodiversity targets, many of which were not met.

More information can be found at the Convention on Biological Diversity website.