Oficial statement by the UK Government.
A new deal to protect nature has been agreed by almost 200 countries at the UN biodiversity summit, COP15.
The agreement – which was finalised in the early hours of Monday 19th December in Montreal, Canada – includes a global commitment to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and to protect 30% of land and oceans by the same date.
The framework also commits to ending human-induced extinctions of known threatened species, such as rhinos and gorillas.
Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said:
Today’s deal is an historic milestone in protecting our natural environment for future generations.
I want to thank our fantastic UK team of civil servants and ministers in Montreal. This deal builds on the legacy of our own COP and G7 presidencies where we put nature at the top of the global agenda.
The UK has played a leading role in driving forward progress in negotiations throughout the summit, building on the actions agreed during the UK’s own COP and G7 presidencies, including securing the Leaders Pledge for Nature last year which commits world leaders to taking action to drive sustainable food production, end the illegal wildlife trade and tackle climate change.
The deal comes after the commitment last week through the Donor Joint Statement to put billions of dollars towards the protection and restoration of the natural world.
Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England said:
The agreement reached in Montréal today is a real breakthrough, presenting a new opportunity for humankind during the course of this decade to bend historic declines of Nature toward recovery. If we do that, not only will we save threatened species and ecosystems, but bring a range of hugely valuable benefits for people.
We must continue to call for high ambition and work together to achieve stronger outcomes for Nature, with the priority now being all about delivery in the member countries of the United Nations, including across the nations of the United Kingdom. We are very much looking forward to supporting Government in doing that, and ensuring this agreement makes a difference on the ground.
Sources: THX News, Dept. for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Natural England & The Rt Hon Thérèse Coffey MP.
