Foreign governments, philanthropy and business leaders are set to gather at Lancaster House in London today (Friday, February 17) for an event organised by the UK government focussed on driving forward and supporting the UN Nature COP15 agreement.
The aim of the event is to drive delivery of the deal agreed by almost 200 countries at the UN Nature summit in Montreal in December 2022, which included a biodiversity framework requiring countries to halt biodiversity loss and protect 30% of the world’s land and ocean all by 2030.
The framework requires a major push to increase the amount of money invested in tackling nature loss and restoring threatened habitats such as mangroves, rainforests and grasslands, according to the UK government.
The event, named ‘Nature Action: Private Sector Mobilisation’, will include four roundtable discussions on:
- Nature finance packages;
- Payment for Ecosystem;
- Use of genetic information from plants and animals;
- Sustainable food systems.
Following the event, King Charles III will host a reception at Buckningham Palace in support of global biodiversity.
UN Nature agreement
The agreement set a target of mobilising $200 billion/year globally by 2030, including $20 billion in flows to developing countries by 2025, which aims to rise to $30 billion by 2030.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the gathering shows the UK’s commitment to protecting the planet’s habitats.
“We must keep up the momentum on the progress made so far, and it is by working together across the international community that we will identify and deliver the solutions needed to safeguard our environment for our children, grandchildren and generations beyond,” he said.
Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said: “We are proud to have been part of the successful efforts to adopt an ambitious Global Biodiversity Framework in Montreal last year and its effective implementation will be crucial for the future of our planet and for every generation to come.
“I’m pleased to be bringing together ministers from around the world, business leaders, financiers and indigenous leaders to identify the solutions – both financial and structural – that will enable global action to protect nature and reverse biodiversity loss.”
