Nature and communities need governments and business to invest in nature at COP16
A joint statement from global conservation leaders
To halt and reverse nature loss and help insulate communities from the impacts of climate change, world leaders in government and business must match their words with investment at COP16.
This is the call to action from the world’s conservation leaders, who gathered in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec, for the Global Congress of the International Land Conservation Network (ILCN).
Representatives from six continents and 26 countries discussed the urgent need to accelerate the pace of nature conservation, and shared information and examples of solutions to biodiversity loss and climate change that are succeeding worldwide.
Ultimately, participants agreed that doing more, faster, requires increased financial commitment from all sectors of society.
Despite advances in technology, growing industry collaboration and Indigenous-led conservation successes, nature is losing ground, and humans are feeling the effects.
Nature loss hurts cultures, economies, food security and community well-being. Conservation, on the other hand, supports nature and people, so everyone can thrive in a resilient world.
That’s why everyone who wants a thriving world for people and nature must commit to investing in nature and to working with partners and stakeholders from all sectors to translate big ideas into tangible results.
Doing more doesn’t just happen with passionate people, innovative ideas and global conferences; nature loss doesn’t stop in the face of good intentions. Nature needs ambitious investments to match ambitious goals.
Accordingly, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), the ILCN and global conservation leaders are calling on governments and business representatives at COP16 to back up their pledges with investments in nature — to secure a resilient and equitable future for all life on Earth.
Quotes
“Around the world, experts with lived experience and technical knowledge are making great strides in conservation. But we know we must do more for a world that does so much for us. We’ve got the plans and the partnerships; now nature needs us all to get to work. Participants from around the world at the Global Congress of the ILCN have shown me once again that there is hope for nature.”
— Catherine Grenier, president and CEO, Nature Conservancy of Canada
“Private and civic land conservation practitioners around the world are taking bold action for nature and communities through partnership, innovation and vision. To meet the urgency of the moment, we need to work harder to realize the potential of all parts of society to act together, and to act wisely, for nature now.”
— Chandni Navalkha, Associate Director for the International Land Conservation Network, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Facts
• World Bank research suggests nature underpins 40 per cent of the world’s GDP.
• The United Nations Environment Programme estimates USD7.4 trillion would need to be invested between now and 2030 to meet nine key nature-related SDG targets.
• NCC forms part of Canada’s official delegation at COP16.
• Nature-based solutions are actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore ecosystems, effectively benefitting human well-being and biodiversity. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, nature-based solutions are among the most cost-effective strategies to counter the challenges society faces — the dual crises of biodiversity loss and climate change.
• The 2024 Living Planet Report shows that the average size of wildlife populations fell by a staggering 73 per cent between 1970 and 2020.
About the Global Congress of the ILCN
In advance of the United Nations’ biodiversity and climate conferences this fall, the world’s leading voices in conservation joined the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) at the 2024 Global Congress of the International Land Conservation Network (ILCN), presented by RBC, in Mont-Sainte-Anne, Quebec, October 16–18. The event was co-hosted by NCC and ILCN. Under the theme, “Relationships for a resilient world” civic and private land conservation experts from 26 countries discussed what is required to reach Canada and the world’s conservation goals of protecting 30 per cent of our lands and waters by 2030. This target is what nature needs if we’re to protect biodiversity and safeguard communities from the impacts of floods, drought, wildfires and our ever-changing climate.
Funding supporters of the 2024 Global Congress of the International Land Conservation Network (ILCN) include Environment and Climate Change Canada, the Government of Quebec and presenting sponsor RBC.
About the International Land Conservation Network
As a flagship program of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy’s Land and Water impact area, the International Land Conservation Network (ILCN) is focused on supporting and growing a highly effective, trusted, and connected global community that leverages expertise to successfully advance private and civic land conservation throughout the world. Its mission is built around the belief that building capacity and empowering voluntary private and civic land conservation will strengthen the global land conservation movement and lead to more durable and effective resource protection.
About the Nature Conservancy of Canada
As Canada’s largest environmental charity, the Nature Conservancy of Canada has worked with partners to conserve natural landscapes since 1962. Together, we deliver solutions to address the dual crises of biodiversity loss and climate change through large-scale and long-term conservation. We create lasting change for the planet and its people by partnering with Indigenous Nations and communities, governments and businesses around shared interests. Nature makes it possible. To learn more, visit natureconservancy.ca.
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