Germany joins High Ambition Coalition for Nature und People
Germany will join the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People (HAC). Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel announced this step today at the One Planet Summit for Biodiversity. The HAC, initiated by the presidents of France and Costa Rica, is working towards the goal of effectively protecting at least 30 percent of both the planet’s land and ocean by 2030. Joining the High Ambition Coalition is an important milestone in the run-up to this year’s UN Biodiversity Conference and the adoption of an ambitious global biodiversity framework.
Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze commented: "The international community must urgently respond to the clear signals nature is sending us. We need powerful alliances and concrete action to protect biodiversity. Under the German Council Presidency, the EU adopted ambitious targets. By 2030, at least 30 percent of the land and 30 percent of the oceans must be protected, with strict protection standards applying for parts of these areas. Germany is taking a strong lead at EU and international levels, advocating for effective protection on land and at sea. However, we must join forces if we are to achieve our goals. We need a network of protected areas that are well and equitably managed as well as a cross-border approach ensuring sustainable use of natural resources. I strongly support nature conservation concepts that also promote community involvement in and around protected areas."
Protected areas are essential to effective pandemic prevention. Scientific research shows that the destruction of ecosystems increases the likelihood of new viruses spilling over from animals into humans. The Federal Environment Ministry is committed to an ambitious target for protected areas that combines sufficient size with ecosystem interconnection and integrity. This kind of approach directly contributes to the preservation of species-rich ecosystems and healthy and resilient populations. A target for protected areas is included in the proposed target catalogue to be adopted as part of the new global framework for biodiversity at the next UN Biodiversity Conference in Kunming, China.
The coronavirus pandemic has clearly shown that human, animal and ecosystem health are inextricably linked. The One Planet Summit 2021 was dedicated to biodiversity protection. Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel used the opportunity to seek support for the International Alliance against Health Risks in Trade with Wild Animals. The initiative was launched last year by the German environment and development ministries (BMU and BMZ) in cooperation with international partners. The alliance offers a platform for cooperation, knowledge transfer and concrete action in order to lower the risk of direct pathogen spillover to humans in the context of wildlife trade.
The One Planet Summit also focussed on the close link between deforestation, species protection and health. The GNU partnership between Germany, Norway and the United Kingdom plays a leading role globally in efforts to protect tropical forests. In 2015, the governments of the three countries pledged to make five billion US dollars available between 2015 and 2020 to support countries with ambitious plans and concrete results in stopping tropical deforestation. By raising 5.6 billion US dollars, they even exceeded their pledge.