February 21, 2020 — The following was released by the Convention on Biological Diversity:

The UN’s Global Biodiversity Outlook 5, to debut Mon. May 18, outlines a combination of achievable actions needed to protect nature, ecosystems and nature’s contributions to people, as it underlines the enormous stakes for humanity involved in the success of those efforts.

The report synthesizes comprehensive evidence of the urgent need for action as nations negotiate a 10-year global framework for biodiversity-related policy-making, and prescribes demonstrated pathways to reach new targets for nature to 2030, and the world’s previously-agreed vision for 2050: ‘Living in harmony with nature.’

The framework and targets will be considered at an historic UN Biodiversity Conference — the 15th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15), Kunming, China, Oct. 15-29.

GBO5 builds on a wide range of sources, including

• Four previous GBO reports (2001, 2006, 2010, 2015)
• Assessments by IPBES (the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services), including 2019’s landmark Global Assessment, which referenced nearly 15,000 information sources
• Recent research and indicators updated since the IPBES GA
• 6th National Reports to the CBD from the Convention’s member Parties
• Reports from international bodies, including the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and others
• Plant Conservation Report (Global Strategy For Plant Conservation targets, 2011-2020)
• Local Biodiversity Outlook (relating to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities)

GBO5 offers an integrated overview of the world’s achievements and shortfalls with respect to the Aichi Biodiversity Targets (2010-2020), and draws the essential links between biodiversity and other key international objectives, such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals), and the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change.

It examines causes of biodiversity and ecosystem change, the implications for people, and policy options based on programs worldwide that demonstrate successful approaches.

Says Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Director of the CBD:

“Over the past several months, the public in general and especially our youth have demonstrated unprecedented levels of concern about biodiversity loss and the state of nature. Behind these rising calls to halt the degradation of ecosystems and the loss of species and genetic diversity is a growing understanding of the severe threat these challenges pose to human well-being.”

“To succeed in protecting nature, and ourselves, we need knowledge of both the problems and solutions to reach people at every level, and to inspire the resolve to act. In this ‘super year for biodiversity,’ GBO5 represents an important milestone on the fateful road to COP15 in Kunming, China, October 15-29.”

Structure of the GBO5:

Roughly 100-pages, three sections:

Introduction: Recaps conclusions of GBO3 and GBO4, places biodiversity conservation and protection in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals, Paris Climate Change Agreement

Biodiversity in 2020: Provides a ‘verdict’ on Aichi Biodiversity Targets, identifying shortcomings and areas of achievement and success; builds on the IPBES Global Assessment with recent research and updated indicators, illustrations from the 6th National Reports to the CBD, and a wide variety of additional sources

Transitions to a better future: Identifies a set of ambitious, interlinked and essential changes to reach sustainability; outlines key transitions required in land use, food systems, agriculture, fisheries, cities, climate action, and fresh water. Includes examples which, replicated, scaled up, and supported by economy-wide measures, would support progress toward the agreed vision: living in harmony with nature by 2050.

Expected impacts

GBO5 will:

• Update the evidence-based knowledge base to inform policy making for the decade ahead
• Demonstrate the close links and dependencies between meeting objectives for nature, climate change and other components of sustainable development.
• Raise awareness of the importance of transformational multi-sectoral policies and governance structures, including the effects that policies and other indirect drivers have at a global scale and options to improve trans-regional policy-making

Audiences

GBO5 is presented with a wide audience of readers in mind, including government and business leaders, civil society groups, indigenous peoples and communities.

Timeline

2010: GBO3, evaluated progress against targets to 2010, informed a new decadal global framework and strategic plan

2014: GBO4, mid-term progress assessment

2020: GBO5, evaluates Aichi Targets (2010-2020), informs post-2020 global framework

Friday, 21 Feb., 09:30h US Eastern time: GBO5 “primer” released at outset of the 2nd meeting, Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (OEWG2020), Rome, Feb. 24-29. http://bit.ly/CBDMediaBriefing21-02-20

Mon. 18 May, 09:00h US Eastern Time (13:00 GMT / 14:00 in UK, 15:00 CET):
GBO5 news conference launch, CBD Secretariat, Montreal

Webcast: www.cbd.int/live

Media off-site will be able to submit questions

GBO5 accreditation: Media, NGOs

By accrediting you are agreeing to accept and abide by the date and time of the embargo that will be placed on the respective materials. This means you agree to neither publish, air, nor circulate any of these materials in any form prior to the embargo being lifted. You may approach third parties for comment during the embargo period but only if they agree, in turn, to abide by the same restrictions.

To apply, please:

Email: GBO5Accreditation@gmail.com
Subject line: Accredit GBO5

Specify online or site accreditation

Online: advance access (from Tues. 12 May) to GBO5 news release, full report, other media resources. Requires consent to a strict embargo: 09:00h US Eastern Time, Mon. 18 May.

Site: grants ‘online’ accreditation and access to the news conference

Please include the following information:

• Organization
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Media are asked to attach a scan of a valid press card or letter of assignment on company stationery. If you do not have a press card (e.g. a regular blogger but not a formal media employee), please instead submit a recent sample of your work in a subject area related to the work of the CBD