Posted on September, 15 2020
Gland, 15 September 2020 - As the United Nations releases its Global Biodiversity Outlook 5 (GBO-5) report today, a WWF spokesperson said:
“Failing to fully meet any of the United Nations' Aichi targets for biodiversity set a decade ago will have a severe negative impact on efforts towards stabilizing and reversing the loss of nature caused by humans, and mitigating climate change, and in turn threaten the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.
“In a year when we are being challenged by a global pandemic, facing more and more extreme weather events and devastating bushfires, and seeing yet more evidence of a decline in many species, it is imperative that governments step up to readdress our balance with nature, alongside leaders, businesses, and communities to restore the cultural and natural diversity of our planet. Only by acting together, respecting the rights and values of all stakeholders, can we secure a sustainable future for people and the planet.
“At this year’s UN Biodiversity Summit leaders must demonstrate how they will accelerate action ahead of the UN biodiversity negotiations scheduled for 2021. WWF is calling for urgent action to set nature on a path to recovery by 2030, by ending the destruction of natural habitats, halting species loss, and halving the footprint of our production and consumption. It is crucial that we build resilience to future crises, and that is why a New Deal for Nature and People has never been more vital.”
-Ends-
Notes to editors:
A special Summit on Biodiversity, due to take place on 30 September, will bring together world leaders, businesses and civil society to highlight the urgent need for action on nature at the highest level. It marks a critical opportunity for leaders to demonstrate ambition and accelerate biodiversity action for sustainable development.
With a new global biodiversity agreement scheduled to be negotiated next year, alongside increased climate action, the world has the opportunity to secure a New Deal for Nature and People that sets nature on the path to recovery by 2030 and secures a sustainable future for people and the planet.
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WWF is an independent conservation organization, with over 30 million followers and a global network active in nearly 100 countries. Our mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which people live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. Visit panda.org/news for the latest news and media resources; follow us on Twitter @WWF_media
