C OP15 30 by 30 – a glimmer of hope for nature?

As the recent UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) meeting drew to a close, representatives of 188 governments, including the UK, adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (phew!) It is being heralded by many as a monumental step in halting ecological breakdown and one of the most talked about slogans is the much snappier ‘30 by 30’ version. It aims to protect 30 per cent of Earth’s lands, oceans, coastal areas and inland waters by 2030

As of mid-2021 only 16 64 per cent of the world’s land and 7 74 per cent of its oceans were protected so the aim is essentially to double protected areas within seven years – and that is no mean feat

It will require coordinated action from governments, businesses and individuals but it’s crucial that it is met if we are to have any hope in stopping ecological and climate breakdown.

In his opening remarks, UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, hammered home the reality: “With our bottomless appetite for unchecked and unequal economic growth, humanity has become a weapon of mass extinction We are treating nature like a toilet And ultimately, we are committing suicide by proxy.” He stressed that our survival hinges on a healthy planet

The latest WWF Living Planet 2022 report drives home the desperate need for action – global wildlife populations have plummeted by 69 per cent on average since 1970 Latin America – one of the most biodiverserich areas in the world – has suffered the worst, with an average decline in wildlife of 94 per cent

There is now no argument that meat, dairy, fish and egg production is a primary driver of this drastic decline, mainly due to animal agriculture which destroys habitats to provide land for grazing and growing feed crops.

But is the ambitious ‘30 by 30’ enough? It’s been under discussion for years and some scientists have raised concerns that protecting 30 per cent of the planet is insufficient. The bare minimum, they say, should be closer to 50 per cent They have an ally in the UN, whose 2022 report states that 30 to 50 per cent of the Earth’s surface needs to be conserved to tackle the climate crisis, protect nature and humanity’s lifesustaining systems

What is certain is that if we don’t address the monopoly that animal agriculture has on the world’s land, oceans and resources, none of these targets will be reached Global agriculture takes up around 46 per cent of all habitable land, and 83 per cent of this figure is dedicated to meat, dairy, fish and egg production

Research shows that agriculture’s land demand can be reduced by 75 per cent if everyone adopts a vegan diet. This transition will become even more vital as a growing global population puts increased pressure on food systems and biodiversity

In addition to the ‘30 by 30’ target, other goals and targets were agreed to tackle biodiversity decline One of them directly references the need for sustainable management of agriculture, although meat, dairy, fish and eggs are not specifically mentioned. Despite this, dismantling the animal agriculture industry will have to play a central role in order to meet the targets of reducing pollution, phasing out or reforming subsidies that harm biodiversity, and enabling consumers to make sustainable consumption choices

Sadly, unlike the Paris Climate Agreement, this agreement is not legally binding and relies on a moral drive by world governments to put the needs of the planet, nature and humanity above short-term monetary gain. The main offenders are richer countries that have contributed more than their share to biodiversity loss and still have per capita greenhouse gas emission levels and damaging ecological footprints way above current global averages

Richer countries h and have agreed to p biodiversity by the en honour the agreemen

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While this agreeme provide a glimmer of individuals we are no can all play a role by consumption habits –awareness of this is t Viva!’s environment

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