Question Period Note: Negotiating Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Targets

Negotiating Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Targets

• Nature is in crisis. The rate of nature loss during the last 50 years is unprecedented in our history. Recent global assessments have emphasized that we need urgent, concerted action to address biodiversity loss—the loss of species, ecosystems and genetic diversity.
• Canada is very aware of, and concerned for, the state of the world’s biodiversity. The Government of Canada understands the severity of nature’s dangerous decline worldwide and how it affects Canadians. Much of the materials we use, the food we eat, and the medicines we need, originate from natural areas outside Canada.
• Canada which is home to the second-largest remaining wilderness area, one fifth of the world’s fresh water, and the world’s longest coastline, is keen to take a prominent role as a “Nature Champion” in reversing the drastic loss of animals, plants and habitat worldwide.
• In 2020, countries will adopt an ambitious new global framework for biodiversity. New global targets will be developed to guide all countries’ efforts to halt the loss of nature.
• Canada is an active partner in this international process, working constructively with other countries and providing strong leadership.

• BIODIVERSITY IN CRISIS

o In 2019 the Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) delivered its global assessment report. This report critically assesses past, present and possible future trends in nature and its contributions to people. The report also assesses drivers of change in nature and their projections and scenarios into the future. The assessment is based on 15 000 references and contributions from 450 experts from 50 countries. It is the first global assessment to systematically include indigenous and local knowledge and issues of concern to indigenous people and local communities.
o Nature and nature’s contributions to people are vital for human existence and good quality of life. The IPBES report makes clear that nature is increasingly under threat and has been altered significantly by humans. The vast majority of ecosystem and biodiversity indicators are showing rapid decline. The key direct drivers of loss are land- and water-use change, overexploitation of species, climate change (which increases the impact of other drivers), pollution, and invasive species. The goals for conserving and sustainably using nature and achieving sustainability cannot be met by current trajectories – transformative change is needed.

• POST-2020 PROCESS

o In 2010, the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) agreed on a 2011-2020 Strategic Plan for Biodiversity, including 20 global targets. These targets will conclude in 2020. However, the world is not on track to meet most of those targets.
o In 2020, at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-15) to the CBD, the global community will adopt a new global biodiversity framework with associated targets. It is anticipated that this new framework will guide biodiversity conservation and sustainable use efforts over the next 10 years.
o Canada has taken a strong international leadership role on the development of a post-2020 global biodiversity framework by (a) hosting the “Nature Champions Summit” in April 2019, which included a “Call for Action” that appeals for “an ambitious and transformative global biodiversity framework”; (b) having Basile van Havre (Canada) as one of the co-chairs to help the international community develop the new post-2020 framework; and (c) hosting the CBD Secretariat in Montreal since 1996.
o Since February 2018, Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) officials have engaged extensively and on a regular basis with interested federal departments, provinces and territories, national Indigenous representatives, NGOs, youth, industry, and others, including other key countries, to gain insight and varied perspectives to inform an eventual Canadian negotiating position on the Post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. This engagement will continue, particularly with Canadian provinces and territories, given their important role in implementing Canada’s biodiversity targets.
o These discussions have highlighted several key issues amongst Canadian partners, including the need for clearer and more measureable targets, the important role of Indigenous peoples and women in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and the need to strengthen accountability of countries towards their own global and national biodiversity commitments.
o Canada’s engagement with the CBD and its global biodiversity framework and targets allows Canada to influence global, collective efforts to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity and nature. This is not only critical for the whole global ecosystem, but is specifically important for Canada: much of the goods, including raw materials, food, seeds, etc…, and ecosystem services, such as climate regulation, sequestration of carbon, amongst others, that we need originate from outside of our borders. Working for enhanced efforts on biodiversity and nature outside of Canada is in our own best interest.

Question Period notes as provided by the Department to the Minister’s Office