World Nature Conference: WWF criticizes lack of progress

On the occasion of the provisional end of the 16th World Nature Conference (COP16) in Cali, Colombia, the environmental protection organization WWF Austria criticizes the lack of important resolutions, particularly regarding the financing of species protection. “This is a bitter disappointment. While biological diversity is massively declining and our livelihoods are threatened, politics lacks the ambition and consistency to make real progress,” says WWF expert Joschka Brangs. “We call on the international community to quickly present solutions to all important open questions. Anything else would be a declaration of political bankruptcy.”

In Colombia, states were unable to agree on how international funds for biodiversity conservation will be distributed in the future. However, financing is central to the globally fair implementation of the World Wildlife Agreement, which is intended to halt and reverse the loss of species and ecosystems by 2030. Also, no decision could be made on the so-called “Monitoring Framework”, which is necessary to measure the states’ achievement of goals for the International Agreement on Nature. This leaves it unclear whether the planned inventory will even be possible at the next COP17.

Global loss of nature
The “Living Planet Report” from the WWF shows that globally surveyed populations of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish have declined by 73 percent since 1970. “This is an alarm signal for the dramatic state of nature,” warns Joschka Brangs. “The food security and health of billions of people directly depend on intact ecosystems. If they disappear, we humans will also face a life-threatening crisis.”

There is also a great need for action in Austria: Currently, over 80 percent of the FFH-protected species and habitat types are not in a favorable conservation status and only 14 percent of the rivers are ecologically intact. In addition, 90 percent of the original moor areas have already been destroyed. The strong soil sealing and urban sprawl in the landscape also have a particularly negative impact. “The future federal government must launch a nature conservation offensive and increase funding for the important biodiversity fund,” demands Joschka Brangs from the WWF.