The pledge was developed by the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), Belize, Bhutan, Colombia, Costa Rica, the EU, Finland, Kenya, Seychelles, the UK and an alliance of organisations.
It is part of the UN convention on Biological Diversity which is considering a new global draft agreement (PDF) for adoption at Montreal, Canada, from 7 - 19 December 2022 Conference of the Parties meeting (COP15). This is a landmark agreement addressing the biodiversity crisis, an equivalent for what the Paris Agreement did for climate change.
The pledge comes after the release of the five-yearly State of the Environment report found the health of Australia’s environment was poor and deteriorating and at least 19 ecosystems were showing signs of collapse. This report's release had been delayed until after the election by former Environment Minister Sussan Ley.
The Prime Minister's Video statement addressed to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on signing the Leaders Pledge for Nature:
I’m pleased to say Australia will join other nations in endorsing the Leaders Pledge for Nature.
This highlights Australia's reinvigorated approach to protecting our environment and climate leadership and signals our solidarity with other world leaders in our commitment to taking strong action on the dual crises of biodiversity loss and climate change.
Australia understands the urgency of the environmental challenges facing our planet and we're committed to being a leader in the global fight to solve them.
Australia is one of the most biologically rich and diverse nations on Earth, one of only a few mega-diverse countries that together comprise less than 10% of Earth's surface, but are home to more than 70 per cent of its living species.
Working together, we can better protect and conserve the world's land sea waterways and cultural heritage for future generations. Now is the time to act.
In a statement Dermot O’Gorman, CEO of WWF-Australia said in response:
“The newly elected government promised Australians that the environment was back as a priority, and this commitment sends that signal to the world,”
“We look forward to working with the government to ensure this pledge translates into action that helps regenerate Australia and supports our neighbours in the Asia Pacific.
“Australia’s internationally prized landscapes are deteriorating. Our deforestation and mammal extinction rates are among the highest in the developed world, and raise the very real spectre of losing iconic species like the koala in Eastern Australia.
“We are on the front line of the escalating nature crisis and we can play a global leadership role in addressing it.”
“Now is the crucial time for leaders to step up and deliver on this pledge,” said Mr O’Gorman.
“That should begin with an ambitious agreement from governments to protect our wildlife and wild places and tackle the drivers of nature loss at the COP15 UN biodiversity conference in Montreal in December.
“Australia has a seat at the table to establish a Paris-style agreement for nature. We can help lead the global effort to reverse biodiversity decline and secure a future that benefits both people and nature.”
Kelly O’Shanassy., chief executive of the Australian Conservation Foundation, also welcomed the announcement, “We see Mr Albanese’s involvement as an indication that the federal government will start to take the biodiversity crisis seriously.
“At present, Australia is failing to meet its international obligations. Conservation efforts are hugely underfunded and only 100 of Australia’s more than 1,900 listed threatened species and communities are prioritised for recovery action." she said.
O'Shanassy called on Prime Minister Albanese and Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to attend the UN’s Convention on Biological Diversity COP15 in Montreal in December and demonstrate long overdue and genuine leadership from Australia on achieving a ‘nature positive’ world.
See also reporting by Lisa Cox, The Guardian, 21 September 2022. Australia signs global nature pledge committing to reverse biodiversity loss by 2030
Read more on the Global Biodiversity Framework proposed from my report last year on 2 September, 2021: Global framework on Biodiversity - Australian statement on the Convention on Biodiversity 2030 target
References:
- Prime Minister speech 21 September 2022, https://www.pm.gov.au/media/australia-join-leaders-pledge-nature
- WWF-Australia statement, 21 September 2022, https://www.wwf.org.au/news/news/2022/australia-s-pledge-for-nature-comes-at-a-crucial-time#gs.cu6l27
- ACF statement, 21 September 2022, Pressing need for action on nature destruction https://www.acf.org.au/pressing-need-for-action-on-nature-destruction
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