Biodiversity Blog - COP10 Nagoya

A chain is as strong as its weakest link

by Willem | 25-10-2010

The COP is now is halfway and it is getting serious. Time for an overview. Among the various topics discussed at this COP, there are several already technically subjects which are finished. This means that all countries on this particular subject have already agreed on a joint text on this subject. Albeit with the provison that there is only an agreement on all these technical issues when there is an agreement on all issues. Thus, there is only one realistic strategic plan to be agreed if there is agreement on the financing of biodiversity conservation. Indeed, the objectives should be appropriate to the funds invested for these objectives. Unfortunately, it proves again that the money is more important than the objective to stop biodiversity loss.

Of all subjects, there are 5 in some way related. They are: the strategic plan, funding, mobilization of the money (where does it come from), the provision of access and benefitsharing of biodiversity (ABS) and biodiversity and climate change. This discussion is about such important issues that political decisions are needed. That is why the environment ministers will be here from 27 to 29 October to take decisive action during the high level segment of the COP. Schauvliege Joke (President EU environment counsel) and EU Commissioner Janez Potocnik have already arrived as well a delegation from the European Parliament (with Jo Leinen). At the political consultations, the final arrangements are made so that all topics of this COP are acceptable to everyone. And everyone means even the smallest member country of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). General consensus here is the code word and in a certain sense, the chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

What are these subjects the ministers need to decide? There are still various points on the table. The strategic plan is one of them and it's pretty important. It is divided into a vision, mission and 20 strategic goals. The vision which now on the tableis as follows: "Living in Harmony with Nature" where biodiversity is valued by 2050, conserved, restored and used wisely maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering essential benefits for all people. A rather ambitious vision but less than this should not be possible. The strategic goals are less ambitious as they should be reached by 2020. Here we often find the same idea back. We need to restore biodiversity to the level where we are within safe ecological limits.

So is strategic goal 8 as follows: By 2020, pollution and excess nutrientload need to be reduced to a level that is not destructive to the functioning of ecosystems and biodiversity. Target 12: By 2020, the extinction of known threatened species has been prevented and their conservation status, particularly those in decline, has been improved and secured.

Many of these goals may not seem so strong but if we want to achieve these goals as the EU we will certainly need to move forwards. Provisionally in Flanders (Atlantic region) there is no habitat type which as favourable conservation status, so we can better continue and ask for more natural for everyone. The road is long but we know what works, that's already fun. Personally I want to get started. When I return I will indeed act immediately and will join the big heroic work weekend in Belgium. Ah it's time to actively contribute again, and restore the habitat of the nightjar on our workweekend.

Messages from Nagoya

by Willem | 11-10-2010

Hello
The diversity of life (biodiversity) is a precious good. So important that some JNM'ers decided to organise a European Youth Perspective Conference on Biodiversity (YouPEC). From 1-6 July 150 youth (18-30 years) from 35 European countries came together in Geel (Belgium) to learn, discuss and take action to save biodiversity. It was a real success with a lot of spin of projects and the views of these young people, in the form of a declaration, was given to the European Environment Commissioner Potocnik, Flemish minister for environment, nature and culture Joke Schauvliege and Jo Leinen, chairman of the Environment Committee of the European Parliament.

During the international biodiversity summit (the Copenhagen of biodiversity) in Nagoya, Japan Christian Schwarzer and I will represent the European youth at this conference. This summit is organised by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). From October 18 to 29 world leaders will decide on strategic targets for 2020 and 2050. In Europe we already decided to stop biodiversity loss by 2020 and restore biodiversity in as far as possible. This might sound familiar to you since we already passed one deadline (Countdown 2010). Let's hope we have learned a lesson in order to go forward and work hard on "nature for everyone".

If we fail to make an encouraging agreement in Nagoya we will have a serious problem. Biodiversity and ecosystem services as clean air, pure water, nature to relax are the result of a precious treasure that we can not lose. Where would we be without this biodiversity, no more apples, honey bees and their honey, no medication, massive flooding and polluted air that fills our lungs with toxins.

I already know what I prefer. Nature close to people so we can relax after a day's work. Agriculture where all kinds of biodiversity is produced beside wonderful vegetables and cows, wild bears and wolves in their natural habitat. All this may seem far away but it is within reach if we go for it in Nagoya. That is why I will use every opportunity to give today's policy makers a clear message. "We believe that you will make sure that there is still a reason to be the leaders of tomorrow". That's why we're in Japan and that's what we will tell them.

I can not wait until 2020 when it will be much better in a world where we can fully enjoy nature.

From now on you can follow our discoveries in Nagoya on this blog. I hope you do the same and speak out loud how green the future will be.

Nothing but the best,
Willem Laermans (willem@youpec2010.eu)

Visit to Jo Leinen

The YouPEC declaration was also handed over to Jo Leinen, the chair of the environment committee of the European Parliament. Mr Leinen took some time for YouPEC and he wrote a promising answer to all of us.

Dear delegation,
thank you very much for the declaration on biodiversity. It is a very interesting document with some important aspects and a broad view on the topic. I really liked the part on the funding and EU's international responsibility as these will be crucial aspects for the upcoming COP 10 in Nagoya. If you followed the activity of my environment committee, you may have noticed that the European Parliament requires the highest security and conservation standards for the European oil production. We need to assure that a similar disaster won't happen in Europe and that there is no risk for our coasts and marine creatures. I agree with you, now is the time to act.

I will keep your thoughts and suggestions in mind on my way to Nagoya. The European Parliament's delegation will do its very best to ensure that "there is still a reason to be the leaders of tomorrow."

All the best for your future activities,
kind regards,
Jo Leinen

Chat with the minister

Ministers have always some time for a chat. In Flanders, the declaration was given on Joke Schauvliege, our environmental minister. At Nagoya, she will speak on behalf of the EU.
The YouPEC delegation from the Netherlands has made an appointement with their environment minister in order to have a discuss with her/him. They will hand over the YouPEC declaration and ask for an ambitious biodiversity policy.
Christian has given the declaration to the German presidency of the Convention on Biological Diversity!

Do not let our biodiversity fly away

* Before YouPEC: message from the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity 
* Declaration

From the 1st until the 6th of July 2010, 150 young Europeans from 35 different European countries came together in Geel (Belgium) to learn and exchange knowledge and experience about biodiversity.

Why biodiversity? 2010 has not only been internationally promoted as the International Year of Biodiversity, it is also the year of the Countdown 2010 target, the promise to halt the tremendous pace of biodiversity loss by 2010. However, biodiversity loss has not been halted. Concerned about their future, the 150 participants want to urge European policy makers to act now and make this year a turning point in biodiversity policy.

The result of YouPEC was the formulation of the Youth Perspective on Biodiversity. In this declaration, the participants urge for action on biodiversity. The participants presented the declaration at the EU Commission building in Brussels, while each of them was holding an image of Europe’s unique species and ecosystems attached to a balloon. To symbolise their concerns regarding the rapidly accelerating rate of biodiversity loss, they stopped the balloons from flying and handed them over to the European Commissioner for Environment Janez Potočnik.

YouPEC was an amazing event that inspired all the participants, to start acting to protect and restore Europe’s biodiversity. But they cannot do this alone, they need politicians to act. Europe’s policy makers need to take the valuable suggestions of the young Europeans into account, constitute a more ambitious and stronger European biodiversity policy, and ensure that there is still a reason for youth to be the leaders of tomorrow. ACT NOW!

download declaration  
download summary