Historic results for biodiversity in COP15
COP15
After four years of discussion, more than 190 states finally adopted, Monday, December 19 in Canada, a historic agreement to tackle the gigantic challenge of the collapse of nature. This new global deal for nature is adopted 12 years after the 2010 Aichi targets. The package adopted by the COP15 includes decisions on the post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), resource mobilisation, a monitoring framework, capacity building and a mechanism for planning, monitoring, reporting and review.
Although it is not legally binding, parties are tasked with reporting their progress towards meeting the targets via national biodiversity plans.
Statement by VILLE NIINISTÖ, Greens-EFA member of the Committee on the Environment and Vice-chair of the European Parliament delegation to the COP15:
"The UN biodiversity summit COP15 has approved a historic deal taking much needed steps to protect nature and to stop the loss of biodiversity by 2030. The main points that countries agreed on in Montreal are protecting 30% of the land and marine areas, ensuring that by 2030 at least 30% of degraded ecosystems are under effective restoration and putting more financial resources to the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework and overall pushing towards making the economies more sustainable by for example cutting off environmentally harmful subsidies.”
“This is a big success for nature conservation and gives hope for the future of our Earth's ecosystems and species. Results are not perfect in every aspect, but in my opinion, these are the best possible results that are now achievable between the countries of the world. To make these ambitious targets into reality, everyone on all levels – international, EU, national and local - must now do their part to ensure these targets are also reached."
* The Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) includes 4 overarching goals and 23 targets on a wide range of issues, including restoration, conservation, halting species extinction, reducing risks associated with pesticides and reforming environmentally harmful subsidies.
