The High Level Segment for the UN Convention on Biological Diversity Conference (CBD CoP14) concluded with the adoption of the Sharm-El-Sheikh declaration by the 196 Parties.
However, it is clear we are failing to address nature loss; WWF’s recent Living Planet Report showed that biodiversity continues to decline, having devastating consequences for people and planet. Furthermore, it is now evident that most of the 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets, set in 2010 to address some of the biggest environmental challenges we face and due in 2020, will not be achieved.
Global efforts to reverse nature loss have lacked urgency, political commitment and effective delivery so far. Protecting and restoring nature and biodiversity is fundamental to our health, well-being, economies, and continued and growing prosperity around the world. CBD COP 14 is a critical window of opportunity to ramp up global efforts to halt biodiversity loss.
“Here in Egypt we feel an acute sense of disappointment, as we are yet to see a coherent vision or sense of direction. We need the CBD to attain the highest political relevance and develop a far higher shared vision if we are to reach a New Deal for Nature and create a Paris-style moment for biodiversity in 2020. At the same time as we head into the year 2020, we are excited by the unparalleled opportunity we have, to embrace a clearer and higher ambition; speed and scale is essential if we are to have any hope of ensuring a sustainable future for the planet and people.” said Marco Lambertini, Director General, WWF International.
While WWF welcomes the Sharm-El-Sheikh Declaration, we call for higher commitment to halt biodiversity loss. Implementation of individual multilateral environmental agreements have been sub-optimal, lacking cohesion and accountability. We support efforts to escalate the political relevance of biodiversity with a 2020 Heads of State Summit on Biodiversity provided that the political process at a ministerial level starts earlier. It also brings an opportunity for governments to reinforce their commitment to the well-being of people and the planet by submitting robust voluntary biodiversity contributions at the earliest.
WWF welcomes the launch of the Sharm-El-Sheikh to Beijing Nature Action Agenda where stakeholders from governments and businesses will come together to confirm commitments to halt the decline of biodiversity and restore nature for the benefit of people and the planet. We are committed to support this process.
WWF strongly supports the call for a New Deal for Nature and People – a deal where the highest levels of government, business and members of society work together for urgent, decisive global action to halt biodiversity loss. By 2020, just two years from now, we need an agreed road map that recognizes the intrinsic link between the health of nature, the well-being of people and the future of our planet.
WWF’s expectation is that CBD COP14 concludes with a robust road map that is supported at the highest political level and delivers an ambitious New Deal for Nature and People in China in 2020. We need this New Deal, which protects and restores nature, to ensure a sustainable future for all.
Enviroshop is maintained by dedicated NetSys Interactive Inc. owners & employees who generously contribute their time to maintenance & editing, web design, custom programming, & website hosting for Enviroshop.