Helping stall mass extinction
Preventing the sixth mass extinction will require much more than emissions reduction—as challenging as that in itself will be.
The world has lost, on average, 68% of its wildlife population since 1970. One million species now face extinction—many imminently. According to Robert Watson, Chair of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), "The health of ecosystems on which we and all other species depend is deteriorating more rapidly than ever. We are eroding the very foundations of our economies, livelihoods, food security, health and quality of life worldwide."
Climate change is of course a key driver of this. But preventing the sixth mass extinction event will require much more than emissions reduction—as challenging as that in itself will be. Ultimately, it requires broad-based, international cooperation aimed at transforming humanity's planetary footprint. Of all the land uses responsible for biodiversity loss, agriculture and logging stand out as the most significant. Containing and reversing the destruction they cause must feature centrally in international efforts to prevent ecocide. With that in mind, Australia will seek to lead international efforts to:
End deforestation. Forests are critical both as habitats and natural carbon sinks. Deforestation thus threatens biodiversity directly, but also our longer term prospects of surviving the Anthropocene. In recognition of this, Australia joined over 100 other countries in supporting the Glasgow Leaders' Declaration on Forests and Land Use at COP26. The Declaration commits parties to halt deforestation by 2030 through conservation, trade and investment incentives, and agricultural reforms, among other measures. Australia will champion such measures domestically, and apply pressure on other custodians of globally significant forests to do the same.
Champion the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021–2030. Australia will play an active part in rallying collective action as part of the UN initiative, which aims to bring states, NGOs, communities, and the private sector together in preventing, halting, and reversing ecosystem degradation. Australia will seek to work with international partners and the initiative's lead agencies, the UNEP and the Food and Agriculture Organization, to end destructive land-uses, protect endangered species, and financially support environmental rehabilitation.
Lead in shaping a robust Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. The final framework, which is still being negotiated, will guide the next decade of action by member states in support of the wide-ranging goals of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. Given the international community's dismal record of achievement against the Aichi Targets, which guided the last decade, it is crucial that the Post-2020 Framework re-animates tangible progress. We will contribute to this by ensuring that the Framework improves on its predecessor by adopting a robust and compulsory Measurement, Reporting and Verification system, similar to that of the UNFCCC.
Halt the spread of invasive species. Invasive Alien Species are a key driver of biodiversity loss and native species extinction, here and globally. To help contain and combat their spread, Australia will champion efforts to strengthen global biosecurity standards, mirroring our robust regime at home. We will also push for stronger international compliance with the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) Agreement, which obliges WTO member states to manage SPS risks, including the spread of pests, in their international trade.
Expand the coverage of protected nature areas. Australia will work with international partners and institutions, such as UNESCO, to expand the scope of natural areas under protected status. We will also push for international community to implement stronger and more robustly enforced restrictions on harmful activities in protected areas.