MEDIA STATEMENT
More than 100 Countries Commit to Protect at Least 30% of Land and Oceans by 2030
Over half the countries on Earth now support this ambitious target ahead of major UN biodiversity summit set for the end of the year
Lisbon, Portugal (30 June 2022)— At the United Nations (UN) Ocean Conference taking place in Lisbon this week, the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People (HAC) announced that 100 countries have now committed to its core mission to protect at least 30% of the planet’s land and oceans by the end of the decade, also known as “30x30.” The science-driven, global goal to protect at least 30% of the planet by 2030 is one of the cornerstones of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework set to be agreed at the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) now taking place in Montreal 5 to 17 December 2022.
Timor-Leste, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the United States of America, Estonia, Saint Lucia, Bahrain, Montenegro, and Burkina Faso are among the latest countries to sign on to the HAC, an intergovernmental group of over 100 countries co-chaired by Costa Rica and France and by the United Kingdom as the Ocean co-chair. Together, HAC member countries hold more than 58% of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity and more than 38% of the world’s terrestrial carbon stocks. HAC member countries hold more than 54% of the biodiversity conservation priorities that exist within marine exclusive economic zones (EEZs) and more than 54% of the seafloor carbon within EEZs.
The announcement comes on the heels of the latest round of CBD negotiations that took place in Nairobi, Kenya, which ended with Indigenous groups, conservation groups and scientists sounding the alarm due to the lack of progress on the critically needed Global Biodiversity Framework.
In addition to the scientifically backed global 30x30 goal, other key priorities that must be included in the framework are significant financial commitments to address the nature crisis and the full recognition of the rights and contributions, and the free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, who are among the best stewards and guardians of nature.
Brian O’Donnell, Director of the Campaign for Nature said:
“At a time when nature faces immense threats, it is heartening to see the leadership of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People. With its membership growing to more than 100 countries, a hopeful signal is being sent to all the world that nations are willing to take bold action to safeguard lands, oceans and freshwater and confront the biodiversity crisis. We are grateful to the co-chairs and members of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People for their commitment to a better future for all life on earth. “
Enric Sala, National Geographic Explorer in Residence and founder of National Geographic Pristine Seas said:
“Costa Rica, France and the UK launched a wild dream: a coalition of countries supporting the protection of at least 30% of our planet by 2030. The wild dream is now mainstream; the coalition has 100 member nations – and continues to grow. Never before in the history of humanity have we been so close to giving nature the space it needs to thrive. Our future depends on preventing the collapse of natural systems that provide our food, clean water, clean air and stable climate. To preserve these benefits, we must protect enough of the natural world to sustain them.”
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Contact:
Kirsten Weymouth
kweymouth@ngs.org
+1 703.928.4995 in Washington