United Nations Decade on Biodiversity
The United Nations General Assembly declared 2011–20 the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity (Resolution 65/161[1]). The UN Decade on Biodiversity serves to support and promote implementation of the objectives of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets,[2] with the goal of significantly reducing biodiversity loss.
Background
On December 22, 2010, building on the International Year of Biodiversity (2010) and the goal of significantly reducing biodiversity loss, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2011–2020 the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity (Resolution 65/161).[3]
Aims
The UN Decade on Biodiversity serves to support and promote the implementation of the objectives of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, which were adopted at the 10th Conference of the Parties to the CBD, in Nagoya, Japan, in 2010. Throughout the UN Decade on Biodiversity, governments are encouraged to develop, implement and communicate the results of national strategies for implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity.[4]
It also seeks to promote the involvement of a variety of national and intergovernmental factors and other stakeholders in the goal of mainstreaming biodiversity into broader development planning and economic activities. The aim will be to place special focus on supporting actions that address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss, including production and consumption patterns.[5]
The Decade is to be succeeded by the Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework, which is itself a stepping stone to the 2050 Vision of "Living in harmony with nature", which envisages that "By 2050, biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people."[6][7]
The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021–2030 aims to drastically scale up the restoration of degraded and destroyed ecosystems.[8] By doing so it is helping to protect biodiversity and to meet the targets of the UN Decade on Biodiversity.
Outcomes
On 30 September 2020, world leaders virtually gathered at the first ever global Summit on Biodiversity. The summit involved pre-recorded statements from over 100 states and organizations. It was intended to build momentum for the fifteenth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity, which was postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus. Many speakers acknowledged that none of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets established in 2010 were met during the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity.[9] The decade was followed by the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
See also
References
- United Nations (2011). "Resolution adopted by the General Assembly. 65/161. Convention on Biological Diversity" (PDF). Convention on Biological Diversity. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
- Convention on Biological Diversity (2018). "Aichi Biodiversity Targets". Convention on Biological Diversity. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
- General Assembly (2010). General Assembly Adopts Landmark Texts on Protecting Coral Reefs, Mitigating Ill Effects of Chemical Munitions Dumped at Sea In Addition to Passing 40 Drafts Recommended By Second Committee, Acts on Two Generated Directly by Plenary.
- Convention on Biological Diversity (2011). UN Decade on Biodiversity website.
- Convention on Biological Diversity (2010). The Strategic Plan for the CBD (press brief).
- United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (2019) Preparations for the Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework
- United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (2010) Conference of the Parties 10 Decision X/2
- Environment, U. N. (6 March 2019). "New UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration to inspire bold UN Environment Assembly decisions". UN Environment.
- "Make Bold Environmental Action Central Focus of Post Pandemic Economic Recovery, Speakers Urge as General Assembly Holds First Ever Global Biodiversity Summit | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". www.un.org. Retrieved 2020-11-12.
The information above, for the most part, is based on the official websites of the Convention on Biological Diversity and of the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity.