Global declaration over biodiversity action agreed

AN international agreement to ensure action is taken at all levels to protect biodiversity is being supported by the Scottish Government.

A statement of intent, known as The Edinburgh Declaration, has been agreed between subnational, regional and local governments across the world calling on the Convention on Biodiversity to take bold action to halt biodiversity loss.

It also calls for greater prominence be given to the role subnational governments, cities and local authorities play in delivering a new global framework of targets, set to be agreed next year.

The Scottish Government said the Edinburgh Declaration is the result of a year-long international collaboration.

Due to the pandemic, Scotland’s commitment to host and lead an international workshop to drive the discussions moved to an online format over the summer.

Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “The coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has been an unprecedented global crisis which has fundamentally changed every aspect of our lives.

“But the twin challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change have not gone away – far from it – and must be central to our green recovery.

“Whilst Scotland’s progress on the current internationallyagreed biodiversity targets compares favourably with the global picture, it is concerning that, at an international level, none of these targets have been fully met.

“It is my firm belief – one shared by all signatories of the Edinburgh Declaration – that State-led action alone is not sufficient to put us on a path to recovery, achieving what is required to protect biodiversity across the globe.

“The Edinburgh Declaration makes it clear that the Scottish Government, together with subnational governments, cities and local authorities across the world, stand ready to meet the challenge of delivering the post-2020 global biodiversity framework and play a stronger role in its implementation.”

The Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity is due to take place in China in May 2021.