Halt and reverse biodiversity loss for a nature-positive world

Nature is in crisis, climate change is worsening, human and planetary health are at risk. Record heat waves, droughts and forest fires are increasingly frequent with devastating human and economic consequences, further weakening the ability of governments to cope with the impacts of a global pandemic and the effect of war in Ukraine on supply chains and the global economy.

Immediate action for nature and climate is imperative. This must be the moment we turn things around and save our life support systems.

We already have a global goal for climate that commits all parties to keep to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels. We need a similar global goal for nature. One that brings all countries together under a shared ambition to reverse nature loss for the benefit of all people and the planet.

That goal must be to be nature positive by 2030 so that there is more nature in the world in the next decade than there is today. To achieve this, we need to halt and reverse the loss of nature by the end of this decade.

The good news is that we have an unmissable opportunity to set in motion action to reach this goal. The global biodiversity framework, to be agreed by the UN and adopted by all Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in December 2022, is a once-in-a-decade chance for countries to unite behind a common mission to be nature positive by 2030.

Photo: © Andre Dib / WWF-Brazil

WHAT IS NATURE-POSITIVE?

To be nature positive by 2030 means that we have more nature in the world then than we do now. Halting and reversing the loss of biodiversity can only be achieved by using biodiversity sustainably and ensuring the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of genetic resources.

A nature-positive mission statement for 2030 in the global biodiversity framework will offer a concise and easy to communicate mission that can inspire public support and political momentum. It should be a guiding light for government, civil society and business, to put biodiversity on the path to a full recovery.

How can we reach a nature-positive world?

A nature-positive world can be achieved through halting and reversing the loss of nature or in other words the recovery of the health, abundance, diversity and resilience of species, populations and ecosystems. It is designed to be integrated with the SDGs and the climate targets of the Paris Agreement to create a coherent unified global approach of creating an equitable, nature positive, net zero emissions world.

Starting by halting and reversing biodiversity loss and measuring improvements against a baseline of data gathered in 2020 means supporting net-zero loss of nature and actions to be net-positive in nature (i.e. nature-positive) by 2030. Immediate restoration is required to meet this goal, but many countries are already setting out on the right path.

There are three basic measurements for a nature-positive goal: zero net loss of nature from 2020, net-positive improvement in nature by 2030, and full recovery of nature by 2050. Nature positive outcomes can be measured by quantifying the maintenance and improvement of natural processes, ecosystems and species over time, as set out in this paper.

Global support

The aim to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030 and become nature-positive in support of climate action and the Sustainable Development Goals, is supported by over 340 civil society organizations.

All that remains, is for Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity to instill a nature-positive mission statement in the global biodiversity framework.

Share your support by using the hashtag #NaturePositive on your social media.