Ottawa (AFP) – A new global biodiversity fund aimed at ramping up critical nature restoration and renewal -- objectives set out at a UN summit last year -- was ratified Thursday by the international community.
Issued on: 25/08/2023
A handout aerial photograph taken on July 25, 2023 and released by the Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, shows 60-70 pilot whales gathering before scores stranded at Cheynes Beach near Albany in Western Australia
- / WA Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions/AFP
At a gathering in Vancouver, Canada and Britain announced they would provide a combined $160 million in seed money to get the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund off the ground.
"Everything begins with this effort," Manuel Rodriguez, head of the Global Environment Facility, said about the fund's official launch at a news conference, calling it a "hugely positive moment."
The Global Environment Facility (GEF)'s assembly brought together 1,500 people from around the world, including environmental activists, government officials, leaders of business and academia, and Indigenous peoples.
The fund's capitalization follows a global "peace pact" signed by more than 190 nations at the Montreal COP 15 summit in December 2022 to protect nature and reverse decades of environmental destruction threatening the world's species and ecosystems.
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That deal pledged to secure 30 percent of the planet as a protected zone by 2030, stump up $30 billion in yearly conservation aid for the developing world, and halt human-caused extinction of threatened species.
Agreed to at the Vancouver talks was a 20 percent allocation of monies towards Indigenous-led initiatives to protect and conserve biodiversity.
The fund will also prioritize the most vulnerable small island states as well as the world's least developed nations.
The ratification of the fund's creation was welcomed by most NGOs.
Campaign group Avaaz, however, said it was not enough startup money, and that another $40 million was "still needed to operationalize the fund by the end of 2023."
The group urged governments that expressed support in Vancouver for the fund's creation, including Japan and the United States, to "put money on the table."
Rodriguez told reporters, "At this point, our basic target for the year is $200 million."
He added that donors were expected to fulfill their commitments before the end of 2025, and that the first disbursements would start be in June 2024.
Canadian Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said the success of last year's COP 15 and this week's meeting in Vancouver "must carry us forward for the long implementation years to come, because this is a generational battle."
His British counterpart, Trudy Harrison, said in a statement that "working together has never been more important" to halt and reverse biodiversity loss around the world.
© 2023 AFP
At a gathering in Vancouver, Canada and Britain announced they would provide a combined $160 million in seed money to get the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund off the ground.
"Everything begins with this effort," Manuel Rodriguez, head of the Global Environment Facility, said about the fund's official launch at a news conference, calling it a "hugely positive moment."
The Global Environment Facility (GEF)'s assembly brought together 1,500 people from around the world, including environmental activists, government officials, leaders of business and academia, and Indigenous peoples.
The fund's capitalization follows a global "peace pact" signed by more than 190 nations at the Montreal COP 15 summit in December 2022 to protect nature and reverse decades of environmental destruction threatening the world's species and ecosystems.
ADVERTISING
That deal pledged to secure 30 percent of the planet as a protected zone by 2030, stump up $30 billion in yearly conservation aid for the developing world, and halt human-caused extinction of threatened species.
Agreed to at the Vancouver talks was a 20 percent allocation of monies towards Indigenous-led initiatives to protect and conserve biodiversity.
The fund will also prioritize the most vulnerable small island states as well as the world's least developed nations.
The ratification of the fund's creation was welcomed by most NGOs.
Campaign group Avaaz, however, said it was not enough startup money, and that another $40 million was "still needed to operationalize the fund by the end of 2023."
The group urged governments that expressed support in Vancouver for the fund's creation, including Japan and the United States, to "put money on the table."
Rodriguez told reporters, "At this point, our basic target for the year is $200 million."
He added that donors were expected to fulfill their commitments before the end of 2025, and that the first disbursements would start be in June 2024.
Canadian Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault said the success of last year's COP 15 and this week's meeting in Vancouver "must carry us forward for the long implementation years to come, because this is a generational battle."
His British counterpart, Trudy Harrison, said in a statement that "working together has never been more important" to halt and reverse biodiversity loss around the world.
© 2023 AFP
Countries launch biodiversity fund to protect nature
The fund will prioritize island states which are most vulnerable to the loss of biodiversity and are among the least developed nations
Under UN mechanism
The fund is set up within the Global Environment Facility (GEF) — a mechanism established under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The fund's creation comes after more than 190 countries signed a pact at the Montreal COP15 summit in December 2022 to protect nature and reverse decades of environmental damage which threatens biodiversity.
That pact's objective was to raise $30 billion annually in conservation aid for developing countries, securing 30% of the planet as a protected zone and bringing an end to extinction of threatened species caused by human activity.
The GBFF will allocate 20% of its collection towards indigenous-led initiatives to conserve biodiversity. It will also prioritize island states which are most vulnerable and among the world's least developed nations.
Call for funding
The United Nations called for contributions to help meet its $30 billion goal for the year.
Speaking of the GBFF, campaign group Avaaz said the $160 million raised was not enough startup money and that another $40 million was required to make the fund operational by the end of 2023.
It urged governments, including that of Japan and the United States to "put money on the table."
"The time for half-measures has passed," Avaaz director Oscar Soria said. "Surely donors can come up with the paltry $40 million" needed to get the fund up and running.
mk/sri (AFP, Reuters)
The fund will prioritize island states which are most vulnerable to the loss of biodiversity and are among the least developed nations
The international community ratified a new global fund aimed at ramping up critical nature restoration and biodiversity conservation, at a gathering in Vancouver on Thursday.
Canada and Britain said they together would provide $160 million (€148.4 million) in seed money to set up the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF).
"We are off to a good start. We now call for further pledges from countries and from other sources so that the first projects under the new fund can be launched next year," said David Cooper, acting executive secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.
Representatives from 185 countries were present at the meeting.
Canada and Britain said they together would provide $160 million (€148.4 million) in seed money to set up the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF).
"We are off to a good start. We now call for further pledges from countries and from other sources so that the first projects under the new fund can be launched next year," said David Cooper, acting executive secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.
Representatives from 185 countries were present at the meeting.
Under UN mechanism
The fund is set up within the Global Environment Facility (GEF) — a mechanism established under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The fund's creation comes after more than 190 countries signed a pact at the Montreal COP15 summit in December 2022 to protect nature and reverse decades of environmental damage which threatens biodiversity.
That pact's objective was to raise $30 billion annually in conservation aid for developing countries, securing 30% of the planet as a protected zone and bringing an end to extinction of threatened species caused by human activity.
The GBFF will allocate 20% of its collection towards indigenous-led initiatives to conserve biodiversity. It will also prioritize island states which are most vulnerable and among the world's least developed nations.
Call for funding
The United Nations called for contributions to help meet its $30 billion goal for the year.
Speaking of the GBFF, campaign group Avaaz said the $160 million raised was not enough startup money and that another $40 million was required to make the fund operational by the end of 2023.
It urged governments, including that of Japan and the United States to "put money on the table."
"The time for half-measures has passed," Avaaz director Oscar Soria said. "Surely donors can come up with the paltry $40 million" needed to get the fund up and running.
mk/sri (AFP, Reuters)
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