Targets to increase conservation of global biodiversity are not being met

The latest UN report on global biodiversity says targets to halt the loss of wildlife and habitats are not being met. the deadline for the targets is 2020 and so far only 5 out of 56 are on course to be met. 33 show progress, but not at a fast enough pace to meet the targets, 10 show no progress, 5 show things are getting worse, and 3 have not been evaluated.

One of the targets which is on track is that of gaining protected status for 17% of ecosystems on land. The equivalent target for oceans, however, is likely to be missed. The report shows that international efforts need to be significantly increased in order to achieve the goals. Previous attempts to halt the loss of biodiversity have been unsuccessful. A set of goals made in 2002 which aimed to slow the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010 were not met as governments failed to deliver on their commitments.

This report halfway to 2020 should spur governments on to make some big changes in order to meet the targets so we don’t end up in the same position as in 2010. The report was published just a few days after WWF released figures showing that we lost 50% of global wildlife in the last 40 years. At the UN climate change summit in New York governments, companies, and campaigners pledged to halt the loss of the world’s natural forests by 2030. The need for change is there and steps are being made towards the various targets and goals but it is clear that a renewed effort is needed in order to succeed in meeting them.

Sources: Guardian online Sep/Oct 2014