PRESS CALL

PROTECTING NATURE IN 2022 — WHAT’S IN STORE?

January 24 at 9:00 EST//14:00 GMT//15:00 CET

Experts: Here’s How Governments, Funders and Conservationists Can End the Nature Crisis Now

 
 

Late last year, UN officials delayed critical biodiversity negotiations in the wake of Omicron’s spread: an important round of negotiations scheduled to take place January in Geneva will now take place March 13-29 in the leadup to the UN biodiversity summit later in the year, where a treaty—known as the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework—is expected to be signed. 

Despite this setback, momentum on nature protection has been building. 

  • This week, Costa Rica is convening ministers from Latin America to discuss—among other urgent issues—the critical importance of protecting 30% of the planet by 2030. The UK Environment Minister Zac Goldsmith is also expected to visit Costa Rica to discuss action plans on biodiversity with Costa Rica Environment Minister Andrea Meza.

  • Costa Rica, along with Colombia, Panama, Ecuador and Portugal, has recently established new or expanded marine protected areas. These include the expansion of the Cocos Island National Park.   

  • Last year, private funders announced a $5 billion commitment to protect and conserve 30% of the planet by 2030. The commitment will fund efforts to achieve 30x30 through the strengthening and expanding of protected areas and support to Indigenous Peoples, critical partners in conservation. 

On the press call, experts from Campaign for Nature will provide an update on these developments, the science backing 30x30, and an overview of what countries, funders and others must do to protect nature in the leadup to the UN biodiversity treaty later this year. 

 .WHO:  

  • Moderator: Kalee Kreider

  • Dr. Enric Sala, Explorer-in-Residence, National Geographic Society

  • Brian O’Donnell, Director, Campaign for Nature

WHEN: 24 January at 9:00 EST//14:00 GMT//15:00 CET

INSTRUCTIONS FOR JOINING: Please RSVP to Susan Tonassi (stonassi@burness.com) to receive the link and password. You are encouraged to submit questions in advance—otherwise, you can use the chat function during the call to submit questions. 

UN Biodiversity Meetings Timeline:

  • March 13-29, 2022: The twenty-fourth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA 24), the third meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI 3) and the third meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (WG2020-3) will take place at the International Conference Center Geneva in Geneva, Switzerland.  Negotiators will hash out the details of the draft UN biodiversity treaty--known as the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. 

  • Date to be Determined, 2022: The date is not yet set for the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), where the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework is expected to be signed by the 196 countries party to the CBD. The meeting is still scheduled to take place in Kunming, China.

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The Campaign for Nature works with scientists, Indigenous Peoples, and a growing coalition of over 100 conservation organizations around the world who are calling on policymakers to commit to clear and ambitious targets to be agreed upon at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Kunming, China in 2021 to protect at least 30% of the planet by 2030 and working with Indigenous leaders to ensure full respect for Indigenous rights.

CONTACT

For Campaign for Nature interview requests and quotes, please contact:

 

Susan Tonassi

+1 202 716 9665

stonassi@burness.com