The global nature summit COP15: what this means for Northern Ireland

Once-in-a-decade plans to save the natural world and reverse global biodiversity loss by 2030 will be decided by world leaders this week at COP15, in Canada. What happens here will directly affect nature’s recovery in Northern Ireland as our government sets out to deliver agreed global biodiversity targets at a local level through the new NI Biodiversity Strategy. A robust and properly-resourced strategy, with Nature Recovery Networks set in law, is vital to tackle both the nature and climate crises.

What is COP15?

COP15, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, is taking place from 7^th - 19^th December 2022 in Montréal, Canada following a two-year postponement due to Covid-19. Although not as well-known as the Climate Change COPs (such as last month’s COP27 in Egypt), both global conferences bring together nearly 200 countries to address planetary challenges that require urgent international action.

Why is it important?

The challenge is huge. Over the past 50 years, animal populations have declined by an average of 70% globally[1]. We are experiencing a mass extinction event, which is entirely relatable to human activity. Furthermore, the climate and biodiversity crisis are two sides of the same coin. Humanity’s viability, health and well-being are inextricably linked- as we lose nature, we put our existence at risk.

In Northern Ireland, we are subject to the loss of biodiversity both locally and further afield, as it impacts disease risk, food and goods supplies and market stability. NI is ranked 12^th worst in the world for biodiversity loss out of 240 countries surveyed, one behind the Republic of Ireland (Natural History Museum and RSPB report, 2020), with 11% of our local wildlife threatened with extinction.

Biodiversity Stripes (c) Miles Richardson — The heating of the planet and global loss of biodiversity since 1970 combined. Global Bio Stripes – Data Met Office and Living Planet IndexClimate Stripes (c) Prof Miles Richardson

What are we hoping for at COP15?

COP15 aims to meet the challenge of halting and reversing biodiversity loss, by setting binding and ambitious global targets. The track record from previous biodiversity COPs is not great, with no previous UN biodiversity targets having been achieved - but the intent has been galvanised, and we now understand better what is needed to ‘bend the curve’ for biodiversity recovery. Biodiversity doesn’t have a readily-measurable single metric that makes setting global targets simple – unlike climate change – but consensus has been built on how to tackle this. There is also the precedent of the Climate Change ‘Paris Agreement’ in 2015, which saw world leaders commit to working together to keep the planet in the ‘safe zone’ of well below 2°C of global warming by the turn of the century. We now need a ‘Montréal agreement’ of similar magnitude for biodiversity by the end of COP15.

A lot of preparatory work has gone into COP15, with draft ‘Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework’ targets waiting in the wings, with two key ones being:

Protect 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030 (the ‘30x30’ target)
Nature-based contributions to global climate change mitigation efforts of least 10 GtCO₂e per year, and that all mitigation and adaptation efforts avoid negative impacts on biodiversity

These work towards the wider UN 2050 Vision for the Convention on Biological Diversity: “By 2050, biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people.”

Crucially, further framework targets focus on reducing the threats to nature such as habitat loss/degradation, pollution and invasive species, addressing the ‘green finance’ needed to enable restoration (including richer countries supporting poorer ones), and empowering local communities and indigenous peoples.

What does COP15 mean for the future of nature, here in NI?

Within Northern Ireland, a new Biodiversity Strategy is being developed by DAERA that should be adopted by the end of 2023, which will provide the mechanism over the next decade for delivering global targets at a local level. It is essential that to make real progress, this has a strong legal underpinning and measurable targets.

The UK signed the Leaders’ Pledge for Nature in 2020, committing to the 30x30 target (further refined by the ‘Nature Positive by 2030’ report in 2021[2]): the crucial next step is how this is delivered locally in NI by the new Biodiversity Strategy.

Why Nature Recovery Networks are essential to nature’s recovery

Nature Recovery Networks (NRNs), or ‘Nature Networks’, provide a vital tool in identifying well-connected core sites for protection - delivering towards 30x30 on land and sea, as well as providing a framework for restoration, nature-based solutions to climate change, and landscape-scale ecosystem resilience. Working with the principles of ‘More, Bigger, Better and more Joined-up’ spaces for nature, NRNs provide a spatial plan and decision support to direct the most effective action for nature’s recovery, with habitat area, habitat quality and connectivity between places the key ingredients.

We want to see NRNs set in law within NI’s Biodiversity Strategy, underpinned by robust targets and properly resourced. This is our one big opportunity to ‘bend the curve’ on nature loss and leave the next generation with more nature – not less.

Well-designed NRNs will allow species and habitats to thrive and fulfil their role in tackling both the climate and nature crises, whilst proving significant benefits to people and society – a vital local action towards a global challenge.

Ulster Wildlife is a member of the NI Biodiversity Strategy Steering Group and will continue to engage in its development until the strategy goes out to public consultation in mid-2023. We will keep our members and supporters updated on its progress, and how you can support our call by making your views heard.

Thanks to generous funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and lottery players, Ulster Wildlife has been working with RSPB NI, the National Trust and Woodland Trust to build capacity to deliver Nature Recovery Networks in Northern Ireland