COP is short for The Conference of the Parties. In 2022 there were three; biodiversity (COP15), climate change (COP27) and world wildlife (COP19). The numbers refer to how many times the parties have met. Biodiversity and climate change are closely linked but COP15 will focus on strategies to halt biodiversity loss, whereas COP27 is focusing on limiting global warming to below 2 degrees and mitigation of climate change. Biodiversity range and quantity is essential to reaching net zero and will contribute solutions to the challenges of a changing climate such as food security and drought. There were over 190 governments represented as well as delegates from business, academia and a host of community groups. The objective for COP15 was to bring together countries to agree on targets to ensure the survival of species and prevent the decline of ecosystems across the world. Targets, agreed at COP10 in Aichi, Japan, have not been met.
In mid-December 2022 the delegates of countries agreed to adopt a new deal to protect biodiversity globally; The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The new framework contains 23 targets to restore and protect biodiversity. The targets are not SMART and so need a level of specificity to be put in place by governments to provide a better and more evidence-based outcome than previously. Funding will be required to ensure enforcement and monitoring.
The framework includes a target for the conservation of at least 30% of the earth’s land and water by 2030 – already known by its abbreviation of 30 x 30. There is a recognition of the rights of indigenous peoples and their role in delivering the 30 × 30 target
“Failure to do so within this timeframe could result in continued and irrecoverable declines in biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and the array of associated societal benefits. Area-based conservation, inclusive of protected areas (PAs) and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs), will be an essential tool towards this effort.” (19/12/22 India Stephenson BES response to the new Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
In the UK protected areas make up 27% of land, and Marine Protected Areas cover 38% of UK seas, however both are subject to a range of pressures and failure to manage them effectively. The report of the British Ecological Society Protected Areas and Nature Recovery determines that effective protection could be as low as 5%.
The new framework stresses the need to create well-connected systems of protected areas and incorporating other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs). The land surrounding protected areas is essential if they are to be effective and likewise the need for good environmental policies. Agricultural policies will be critical in halting biodiversity loss, and the target to reform $500 billion of environmentally-damaging subsidies, such as those supporting unsustainable agriculture, is helpful.
“Many scientists agree that biodiversity is at a tipping point, and decisions made now at COP15 may be our last chance to conserve the natural world and our existence as we know it” (11/22 What is COP 15 RBGKew Explained: What is COP15 and why is it important? | Kew )
Further reading
- Convention for Biology Diversity press release 221219-CBD-PressRelease-COP15-Final_0.pdf
- 2022 PROTECTED AREAS AND NATURE RECOVERY Achieving the goal to protect 30% of UK land and seas for nature by 2030 BES pdf (britishecologicalsociety.org)
- 19/12/22 India Stephenson BES response to the new Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework https://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/bes-response-to-the-new-post-2020-global-biodiversity-framework/
- What is COP 15 RBGKew Explained: What is COP15 and why is it important? | Kew )
- Kew at COP15 Kew at COP15 | Kew
- WWF (2022) Living Planet Report 2022 – Building a naturepositive society. Almond, R.E.A., Grooten, M., Juffe Bignoli, D. & Petersen, T. (Eds). WWF, Gland, Switzerland pdf