Towards a rescue package for biodiversity

Carlos Sanchez nayadefilms BirdLife expects a highly ambitious and energising new 2020 target. Zoom In

2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity, during which a stocktake will be made of how and why the EU and the world have failed the 2010 target of halting, or significantly reducing, the loss of biodiversity. At the same time a new 2020 biodiversity target will be adopted by the EU. In January the European Commission is expected to propose such a new target.

The Environment Council and Heads of Government, as well as the European Parliament, are expected to discuss and decide on this proposal by the end of the Spanish Presidency. In parallel, the Presidency
will also have an important role in representing the EU in the discussions on a new global biodiversity objective and strategy.

BirdLife expects no less than a highly ambitious, measurable and energising new 2020 target, both at EU and global level. The EU, led by the Spanish Presidency, must show leadership by analyzing the reasons for the failure to meet the 2010 target, accepting its responsibility in the degradation and loss of biodiversity and ecosystems world-wide and making concrete commitments to turn this tide in the next ten years. At stake is not only the survival of species, but our ability to tackle climate change and to ensure long-term human well-being and prosperity.

Under the Spanish Presidency:

• To show credible leadership in global biodiversity negotiations, the EU must openly name the reasons for its failure to meet the 2010 target and adopt at the highest political level a far reaching and ambitious new 2020 biodiversity
target, underpinned by meaningful commitments for action.• As soon as the target is adopted, the European Commission should make swift progress to develop a biodiversity rescue package of measures, to be proposed in December 2010.
• The EU needs to show credible leadership in the negotiations to develop a strong and ambitious global 2020 target for adoption by the UN and the CBD in the autumn of 2010.
• All EU Institutions and Member States should take initiatives to highlight the importance of biodiversity and healthy ecosystems in the fight against climate change.