Britain can do much more to help to save species from extinction
and protect nature worldwide, peers have said as countries
prepare for talks aimed at halting global biodiversity losses.
A “clear and present danger” exists to life on earth from the
loss of biodiversity, according to the House of Lords Environment
and Climate Change Committee.
The committee urges greater urgency to combat biodiversity losses
and says that Britain can play an important role in resolving
major global differences and fight for action on biodiversity at
the World Trade Organization.
In a letter
to Environment Secretary the committee sets out what it believes that the
government should do to make COP15 (the United Nations
Biodiversity Conference due to be hosted by China in October) a
success including:
- Step up diplomatic efforts on key sticking points ahead of
COP15 including funding for biodiversity action;
- Improve coordination between COP15 and COP26 (the climate
change conference that Britain will host later this year) and
enhance relations with China to support this;
- Include an ambitious, overarching ‘state of nature’ target in
the Environment Bill;
- Re-establish trust with developing countries, recognising
that cuts to foreign aid and the failure to ensure global access
to COVID-19 vaccines have damaged trust;
- Make protecting and restoring biodiversity a central
consideration when negotiating new trade deals and report their
effects on biodiversity; and
- Support the development of clear, consistent and robust
requirements for businesses to report on their biodiversity
impacts.
, chair of the committee, said:
“Biodiversity is essential for life on earth but is declining at
an unprecedented rate worldwide.
“If we are to stand a fighting chance of halting biodiversity
losses, COP15 must deliver clear, ambitious and measurable
targets and strong mechanisms for monitoring countries’ progress
towards them.
“Greater urgency is needed. We commend our government for some of
its work on COP15 but major issues are still to be resolved and
Britain can play an important role.
“We need to step up our domestic policies not just to inspire a
good agreement at COP15 but to give biodiversity the priority it
deserves. The right joined-up machinery of government must be in
place to implement what’s agreed effectively.
“We all stand to benefit if success can be achieved at COP15 but
if it fails to galvanise the action urgently needed on
biodiversity then all of us will suffer the consequences.”
