Recommendation 24

HM Government Not Addressed

We are seeking a commitment to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework at CBD COP15. Such a commitment is highly ambitious and will require the implementation of transformative changes in the way we use and manage nature globally, including measures to address impacts of climate change on biodiversity. Under our G7 Presidency, at the Summit in Carbis Bay in June 2021, the G7 Leaders agreed a 2030 Nature Compact, committing to the global mission to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 as well as supporting new global targets to conserve or protect at least 30% of global land and at least 30% of the global ocean. G7 Leaders also agreed to support an ambitious post- 2020 global biodiversity framework to be adopted by parties at CBD COP15 which sets ambitious goals, strengthens implementation, and embraces regular reporting and review. The UK further advocated for a transformative Post-2020 global biodiversity framework during the G20 Environment Ministers meeting and at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rome. G20 Leaders called on Parties to the CBD to adopt an ambitious, balanced, practical, effective, robust and transformative post 2020 global biodiversity framework. Leaders and Environment Ministers also recognised the efforts made by countries on the Leader’s Pledge for Nature (LPN) and to ensure that at least 30 % of global land and at least 30 % of the global ocean and seas are conserved or protected by 2030 and committed to help make progress towards this objective. The LPN – negotiations on which were co-led by the UK, Costa Rica and the European Commission - sets out ten urgent actions to put biodiversity on a path to recovery by 2030, including an explicit commitment (LPN commitment 2) to agree an ambitious post-2020 global diversity framework at CBD COP15. The UK is a key member of the LPN core group and has strongly advocated that the delivery of the LPN commitment 2 is a priority in 2022. 2. Furthermore, in August 2021, at the PreCOP of the CBD hosted by Colombia, the LPN came together with the signatories of the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) and the Global Ocean Alliance (GOA) and presented a joint We agree with the recommendation to support a more ambitious Goal A which addresses conservation of ecosystems, species and genetic diversity, and which includes commitments to significantly reduce species extinction risk and to halt human-induced extinctions. It is critical we act now, internationally and at home, to protect and conserve all elements of biodiversity. At the same time, we note that supporting healthy and resilient populations of all species and halting human-induced species extinctions are challenging objectives. An ambitious conservation goal of this kind must be supported by correspondingly ambitious targets that tackle all the direct and indirect drivers of biodiversity loss on accelerated delivery timelines. We note in particular that effectively and equitably managed protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) can play a crucial role in addressing biodiversity loss and we therefore strongly support a global target to protect at least 30% of the land and at least 30% of the ocean by 2030. We agree with the Committee’s recommendation that Goal A should be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Ambitious, Realistic and Timebound), and support this objective across the entire post-2020 global biodiversity framework. We are working in pursuit of a post-2020 global biodiversity framework that is based on and supported by the latest scientific evidence and will drive stretching level of ambition. In the ongoing global negotiations, the UK will continue to push for ambitious global targets and goals, supported by increased finance for nature and strengthened reporting and review mechanisms to facilitate achievement. In the 2030 Nature Compact, we secured a commitment from the G7 Leaders to work together to agree and meet targets to increase the abundance of species populations worldwide, significantly reduce overall species extinction risk and eventually stop human-induced extinctions. We are also continuing to announce actions and commitments in England which will implement some of the measures we want and expect to see under the post-2020 framework. These include, for example, protecting 30% of land and sea, and publishing tree and peat action plans for England. Furthermore, we are already setting key environmental targets in law in England, including for biodiversity. Our announcement that we will set a legally binding target to halt the decline in species abundance by 2030 underlines our domestic ambition and our commitment to the CBD. We will use these commitments to encourage international partners to make similarly ambitious commitments. We will seek to negotiate a reference to nature-based solutions in Target 8. We strongly support the inclusion of nature-based solutions in the post 2020 global biodiversity fr