At the UN conference "COP15" to discuss the protection of biodiversity, 23 new global goals to be addressed by each country by 2030 were adopted.
"COP15", which was held two years late due to the influence of the new corona, has been held in Canada since the 7th of this month with the participation of more than 190 countries and regions.
On the 19th, at the end of the session, the "Kunming Montreal Goals" up to 2030 were adopted, following the "Aichi Goals" of goals up to 2020 toward the protection of biodiversity.
There are 23 new goals that have been adopted, including the "30 by 30" goal of making 30% or more of each of the land and sea world-wide conservation areas, and reducing the invasion and settlement of alien species by at least 50%. It was decided to reduce the impact of contamination, and to fairly distribute the benefits obtained from the use of the genetic information of living organisms.
In addition, regarding the securing of funds, which had been a conflict between developing countries and developed countries, it was included that the public and private sectors would secure at least $200 billion (approximately 27 trillion yen) annually.
The global targets are not binding, and none of the 20 Aichi Targets to be achieved by 2020 were completely achieved.
Since the new goals are not binding, the question will be how far each country can implement the new goals.
Regarding the new global goals adopted this time, Teppei Michiie, international team leader of the Nature Conservation Society of Japan, who is familiar with international negotiations on the Convention on Biological Diversity, said, "Compared to the previous 'Aichi Targets', the numerical targets were set high and motivated. The degree has also increased, and I think it can be highly evaluated as a goal that was achieved through four years of negotiations."
In particular, regarding the establishment of a fund specializing in biodiversity, he said, "It is a kind of compromise between developing countries, which seek to establish a fund immediately, and developed countries, which seek to utilize existing funds. I think it turned out to be a good result for both sides because it was all settled." He added, "This time, the focus was on whether or not to create a fund, but in the future, how much financial support will actually be provided by developed countries and private companies?" It is important to consider concretely how to increase the fund and how to share responsibilities, and not to make the newly created fund just a form."
On the other hand, he said that the challenge is how to make non-binding targets effective, and that the government alone cannot achieve the targets, so more than ever before, the government, NGOs, companies, local governments, and so on. The key to resolving these issues is for researchers and others to work together."