The Austrian Biodiversity Council, which comprises more than 20 experts in the fields of biodiversity, landscape management and nature conservation, along with leading representatives of climate research and environmental umbrella organisations in Austria, are calling on Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, Federal Minister Leonore Gewessler and the entire Austrian federal government in an open letter to join the "High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People", which was presented at the "One Planet Summit" on 11 January 2021 in Paris.
The "High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People" (https://www.hacfornatureandpeople.org) is an intergovernmental group. Led by France, Costa Rica and the United Kingdom, more than 50 countries worldwide have now joined, including Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Italy, Romania, the Netherlands and Spain in Europe. The coalition advocates for a global agreement to effectively protect at least 30% of land and ocean areas by 2030, while recognising the rights of indigenous peoples. A corresponding resolution is to be achieved at the 15th Conference of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), planned for the end of May 2021 in Kunming, China.
Representatives of biodiversity research, represented by the Austrian Biodiversity Council, as well as climate researchers and the heads of environmental umbrella organisations are calling on Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler and the other members of the federal government for Austria to join the "High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People" as quickly as possible and to implement its goals decisively. Prof. Franz Essl from the Biodiversity Council's leadership team said: "Following Germany's example, Austria should contribute to financing protected areas in developing and emerging countries through the 'Legacy Landscapes Fund' (https://legacylandscapes.org). The pandemic in particular should be used politically as a turning point towards a sustainable social, economic and financial system within planetary boundaries."
Understanding the COVID-19 pandemic as a wake-up call
The scientists supporting this initiative emphasise that a fundamental shift in our relationship with nature is necessary to avoid catastrophic climate change, preserve species and safeguard ecosystems. The pandemic starkly illustrates the dangerous consequences of the increasing destruction of natural habitats, human encroachment into wildlife habitats and the resulting rise in the risk of zoonoses. At the same time, the destruction of ecosystems (including through deforestation) and climate change are mutually reinforcing. Both are accelerating the extinction of species. Numerous scientific studies therefore recommend significantly expanding currently protected land and marine areas[1], in order to achieve both the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change and halt the accelerating erosion of biodiversity in an integrated approach.[2]
[1] including the IPBES Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services (May 2019).
[2] https://www.hacfornatureandpeople.org/science-and-reports
