According to a United Nations report published on September 15, 2020, the world is not doing enough to stop the devastating destruction of the natural world.
Ten years ago, Representatives from over 150 countries got together in Japan in order to set out the 20 Aichi biodiversity targets to prevent more species from vanishing and to safeguard ecosystems of—from deforestation to saving coral reefs. However, nations mostly failed to meet those goals, as indicated by the Global Biodiversity Outlook 5, the UN scorecard. Only six of them were ‘partially achieved’. The scorecard notes that ‘bright spots’ (meaning limited progress here) include extinction prevented by conservation, protection of more land and oceans, and regaining of fish stocks in well-managed fisheries. As for the 60 sub-targets, 7 have been achieved and 38 are in progress whereas 13 show no progress, or indicate that things are getting worse.
For the second consecutive decade, countries have fallen short of the goals, and fragile habitats like coral reefs and tropical forests are in more danger than ever before. Humanity stands at a crossroads with regard to the legacy we wish to leave to our coming generations.
From Covid-19 to massive wildfires, floods, melting glaciers, and unprecedented heat, not meeting the Aichi (biodiversity) targets to protect our planet has been a global failure. Degraded land has not been restored; US $ 500bn of harmful subsidies continue to promote overfishing, fossil fuels, and intensive farming; greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise; and many threatened species are still on the brink of extinction. Populations of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, and reptiles have greatly collapsed by 68 per cent on average globally since 1970.
The way we produce and consume food need to be overhauled, so that no more land is converted for agriculture or no precious habitats destroyed. And this is possible if governments, across the world, need act urgently and decisively.
Global leaders are going to meet in China in 2021to set the next round of goals on biodiversity. Thus, going forward, it is imperative to employ tough and legally binding national plans to drive systemic change.
Courtesy: The Independent, Sept 15, 2020; inews, Sept 15, 2020