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Agenda 2030

Spotlight on nature and biodiversity

Nature is humanity’s lifeline. Human health, food, economies and well-being depend on nature. Yet nature is in crisis. One million of the world’s estimated 8 million species of plants and animals are threatened with extinction. Meanwhile, ecosystem degradation is affecting the well-being of 40 per cent of the global population.

The spotlight on nature and biodiversity highlights updates from around the UN System, from partners and others, helping to call attention to the need for a just, prosperous and sustainable future for all.

29 Jul 2024 18:01

New policy brief on food systems transformation in India

A woman carries harvested rice — *Credit: The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity*

The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) initiative has launched the third of eight policy briefs to advocate for a sustainable food systems transition.

Coinciding with India’s G20 Presidency, the TEEBAgriFood initiative in India focuses on transforming food systems by emphasizing the economic value of ecosystem services and biodiversity, underscoring the importance of integrating these into policy frameworks. The Promoting a Sustainable Agriculture and Food Sector in India brief, which includes results that support a strategy shift towards sustainable farming practices, calls for broad adoption of organic farming and agroforestry. This technique has shown potential for land restoration, improving soil health, enhancing water holding capacity and hence the health of watersheds, increasing agrobiodiversity, enhancing carbon sequestration, and supporting the empowerment of women in agriculture.

Take a look at the brief’s full insights and policy recommendations.

Last updated at 29 July 2024, 6.21pm EAT

24 Jul 2024 15:38

How Sri Lanka’s bet on mangroves is paying off

In lead up to International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, which is celebrated every year on 26 July, check out this documentary to learn more about Sri Lanka’s historic mangrove restoration drive.

Last updated at 24 July 2024, 3.42pm EAT

18 Jul 2024 17:08

How halting deforestation can help counter the climate crisis

The sun shines over some pine trees. — *Credit: AFP/Valentin Flauraud*

Every year, the world loses enough tree cover to fill Portugal. As countries prepare to update their national climate pledges in 2025, a key part of the landmark Paris Agreement on climate change, experts are urging them to include concrete targets to end deforestation and restore forests. Without those provisions, experts say, countries will be hard pressed to rein in a climate crisis that is shattering temperature records and unleashing a maelstrom of extreme weather around the world.

Here is a closer look at how forests can counter the climate crisis.

Last updated at 24 July 2024, 3.57pm EAT

08 Jul 2024 13:45

Five ways you can help save the environment this Mother Earth Day

Woman carries farm produce on her head. — Credit: UNEP/Todd Brown

The Biodiversity Plan, a 2022 global agreement to safeguard the natural world, is designed in part to make food systems more sustainable. Its 23 targets include conserving 30 per cent of land, sea and inland waters by 2030.

As nations move to implement the plan, non-profit groups and farmers around the world are already working to make agriculture more planet friendly. Here is a look at how they are doing that.

Last updated at 18 July 2024, 2.51pm EAT

01 Jul 2024 13:45

Astrid Schomaker of Germany assumes role of UN Biodiversity Executive Secretary in Montreal

Astrid Schomaker of Germany has officially taken up her appointment as Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Assuming the role ahead of the sixteenth meeting of the CBD’s 196 Parties (COP 16), Ms. Schomaker brings extensive experience in international relations, negotiations, and global environmental policy-making and deep knowledge of the global sustainable development agenda and Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs).

Last updated at 02 July 2024, 12.56pm EAT

28 Jun 2024 08:34

Republic of Azerbaijan to host World Environment Day 2026

Azerbaijan, Caucasus mountains — *Credit: Pixabay*

The Republic of Azerbaijan will host World Environment Day 2026 with a focus on climate change.

World Environment Day, which Baku will host on 5 June 2026, is the largest global platform for environmental engagement and action. Established by the UN General Assembly in 1972, the Day inspires and is celebrated by millions of people worldwide, who participate in online and in-person activities and events around the world to accelerate environmental progress for people and planet.

Last updated at 02 July 2024, 12.53pm EAT

27 Jun 2024 16:35

Media accreditation opens for UN Biodiversity Conference (COP16) in Cali, Colombia

The Secretariat of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) invites media to apply for accreditation to this fall’s UN Biodiversity Conference, consisting of

the 5th Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI 5), 16-18 October 2024.
the 16th Meeting of the Parties to the CBD (COP 16) and its Protocols (the Cartagena Protocol and the Nagoya Protocol), 21 October – 1 November 2024.

The theme that Colombia, the host country, chose for COP 16 is “Peace with nature”.

Last updated at 02 July 2024, 12.43pm EAT

27 Jun 2024 16:08

Protecting biodiversity in South Africa

Read about @OverstrandMuni's sustainability initiatives in the @impakterdotcom's Sustainable Cities series.

From #GenerationRestoration to @RamsarConv sites to participation in the #RISEAfrica festival, small towns can make big impacts #ForNature! https://t.co/cslLYaDgjv

— ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Center (@ICLEICBC) June 21, 2024

Last updated at 26 July 2024, 2.34am EAT

27 Jun 2024 12:45

Actions to strengthen marine turtle conservation agreed at UN meeting in Tanzania

Governments, scientific experts, and stakeholders convened over four days in an international meeting to address urgent conservation issues affecting marine turtles in the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia region.

The 9th Meeting of the Signatory States to the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles and their Habitats of the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia (IOSEA Marine Turtles MOU) reached an agreement on several conservation actions. These include the adoption of a Single Species Action Plan for the critically endangered hawksbill turtle, recommendations on beach management and hatchery practices, and the endorsement of guidance on identifying critical habitats for turtles.

Last updated at 02 July 2024, 12.45pm EAT

18 Jun 2024 15:11

As trees rise, parched African landscapes spring back to life

Two people planting a tree — *Credit: CIFOR-ICRAF*

More than 600,000 households in six countries have benefited from an initiative to restore African landscapes suffering from drought and desertification.

The initiative, Regreening Africa, has restored more than 350,000 hectares across Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal and Somalia. Find out more.

Last updated at 18 June 2024, 3.12pm EAT