Commitment ties land and ocean protections to sustainable,
inclusive economic recovery
WASHINGTON, June 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Leaders of seven of
the 10 largest economies in the world united today in an ambitious
agenda for the conservation of the planet, recognizing the critical
role of nature in rebuilding the global economy in the aftermath of
the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Action by the G7 to protect or conserve 30% of the global ocean is
a vehicle for nature-based solutions for climate"
In a joint statement, the heads of state from the G7 nations
agreed to conserve or protect at least 30% each of the land and
ocean on Earth by 2030 to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. The
communique also included support for conserving the biologically
rich waters of the Antarctic Southern Ocean, tackling marine
plastic pollution, addressing unsustainable and illegal activities
negatively impacting nature, and mobilizing sustained
financing to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss. The G7
finance ministers pledged to approach these measures with a
commitment to an "inclusive global recovery that builds back better
and greener."
The G7 communique comes during a pivotal year for global
conservation. In July, World Trade Organization members will meet
to negotiate an agreement to end harmful fisheries subsidies; in
August, the United Nations will open the third and final round of
negotiations on a draft of its post-2020 Global Biodiversity
Framework, which maps out conservation targets for the next decade;
in September, the U.N. General Assembly will assess progress of the
Leaders Pledge for Nature; in October, at the Convention on
Biological Diversity, Parties to that international treaty are
expected to agree on an ambitious new plan to safeguard life on
Earth; later in October, the members of the Commission for the
Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources have the
opportunity to deliver nearly 4 million square kilometers of ocean
protection in Antarctica's
Southern Ocean; and in November, the U.N. Framework Convention on
Climate Change will meet to assess progress against the goals of
the Paris Agreement.
Tom Dillon, head of environment
for The Pew Charitable Trusts, issued the following statement:
"Nature underpins human health, well-being, and prosperity, all
of which have suffered during the global pandemic. But we can
recover, in part by putting biodiversity, climate, and the
environment at the heart of COVID-19 recovery strategies and
investments.
"By uniting in this effort, the G7 is investing in an
environmentally progressive response to the current health,
climate, and economic challenges—using our planet's natural capital
as a means to help our communities, our economy, and nature emerge
from this period, stronger than they were before.
"Action by the G7 to protect or conserve 30% of the global
ocean is a vehicle for nature-based solutions for climate; where
fisheries thrive, marine life has the space to rebound and recover,
and we sustain the economic, cultural, and life-supporting benefits
of a healthy marine environment. Robust and well-managed marine
protections can deliver adaptation and resilience benefits, which
are critical for people and nature to survive climate shocks and
stresses such as drought, flooding, and sea-level rise.
"We're at a tipping point for our planet, where the actions of
governments could influence the conservation of our planet for
decades to come, and drive benefits for people and nature. The
first stop is the World Trade Organization next month, where we
could see the much-needed shift from pledges to action—to members
delivering a meaningful and robust agreement to end harmful
fisheries subsidies. If successful, this would be one of the single
biggest actions to end overfishing in our ocean.
"For many of us involved in global conservation, we have learned
several lessons since the Aichi Targets and Sustainable Development
Goals were agreed upon a decade ago. Today we recognize the
critical need to ensure that financial and technical resources are
mobilized to deliver the targets that are agreed; that we work with
all stewards of land and sea to deliver inclusive, equitable, and
just conservation goals; and that our approach is informed by
robust science that also focuses on the quality of protection.
"We also have the benefit of new mechanisms for protecting the
planet. And, unlike in 2010, governments, multilateral development
banks, market leaders, and coalitions are coming together to put
financial resources into achieving global biodiversity targets for
the next decade and beyond."
The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to
solve today's most challenging problems. Learn more at
www.pewtrusts.org/30x30
Laura Margison, +1.202.849.0272,
lmargison@pewtrusts.org
Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tElHCZRgbtU