Biodiversity and climate emergency, the common thread

2 out of 3 schools inaccessible to pupils with disabilities. ISTAT report

12 February 2020

A Constitution for the Earth

15 February 2020

Published by Dario Dongo on 13 February 2020

Biodiversity and ecosystems

'Biological diversity is the variability of living organisms from all sources, including but not limited to terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems. As well as the ecological complexes of which they are part, including diversity within each species, between species and ecosystems' (UN Convention on Biological Diversity, CBD, 1992).

Functional relationships between living organisms and the environment characterize the different ecosystems and ensure their resilience. Human life, in turn, depends precisely on the balance and variety of ecosystems. Since the loss of biodiversity is associated with the desertification and the loss of essential resources to guarantee the food security, as pointed out by FAO in report 'Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture(2019).

Biodiversity and anthropocene

IPBES extension Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services - in its 2019 analysis it indicated the current risk of extinction of 1 in 4 species in the plant kingdom and 1 in 8 (1 in 8 million known species) in the animal kingdom. (1) With a pace estimated to be 10-100 times faster than the average of the last 10 million years. (2) In the current phase, the so-called anthropocene era, according to some groups of researchers, could even herald the sixth mass extinction. (3)

The loss of biodiversity, mainly attributed to anthropogenic action, has manifested itself vehemently in the last 50 years. Due to the devastation of primary forests to make way for monocultures, oil palm and GM soybeans (in primis). With the aggravating circumstance - now a characteristic of almost all agricultural crops on the planet - of the systematic abuse of agrotoxins which poison every living organism, as well as polluting water and soils and impoverishing the latter. Land consumption is also due to the progress of overbuilding, of which Italy still offers an example, and to extractive (mining) activities.

Il climate change, also due to anthropogenic activities, in turn has a negative impact on at least 700 animal species in the context of marine mammals and birds alone. Then there is the pollution of the air and of the seas, where 600 thousand tons of oil are spilled every year and 570 thousand tons of plastic.

The spread of alien species, animals and plants, poses a further threat to biological diversity on a planetary scale. The European Union has therefore banned the entry of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) most dangerous, making use of the scientific contribution of IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) to update the related list. Other serious threats are represented by illegal fishing (Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing) and hunting endangered land animals. (4)

La UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), at the end of the 80s, set up a working group to draw up the outline of the International Convention on Biological Diversity. The text of which was presented in 1992 at the 'Earth Summit' in Rio de Janeiro and over the years has collected the adhesions of 193 countries. The objectives of the Convention are essentially three:

- storage biodiversity,

- sustainable use biodiversity,

- fair and equitable distribution of the benefits deriving from the use of genetic resources.

COP, the Conference of Parties (i.e., the Conference of Acceding States) is the body attributed for coordinating the policies of the Convention. It generally meets every two years.

CBD, decades of stages and failures

2000. At the Fifth Conference of the Parties (COP5), in Nairobi (Kenya), the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC). With the aim of slowing down the process of extinction of plants by 2010. The year in which the objectives of significant reduction of biodiversity loss, defined in the Rio conference and in the second Earth Summit (2002), should have been achieved.

2010. In Nagoya (Japan), at the tenth Conference (COP10), the failure of the objectives was acknowledged. Recognizing, at the same time, that by the end of the century there could indeed be an irreversible loss of biodiversity and of such seriousness as to lead to 'disastrous consequences'for the welfare of humanity.

Lo strategic plan for Biodiversity - a ten-year strategic plan, adopted in Nagoya in view of 2020 - includes some ambitious objectives, the so-called Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Halve the rate of loss of natural habitats, protect 17% of land areas and inland waters, 10% of marine and coastal areas. Restore at least 15% of degraded areas and do everything possible to stop coral reef degradation. (5)

2020. COP15 will take place on 28.10.20-15 in Kunmin (China). The balance is still negative, the loss of biodiversity it is accelerated rather than slowed down. Public awareness is undoubtedly greater than it was 10 years ago, but the commitments undertaken by states on a voluntary basis have been found to be vacant.

Climate emergency and biodiversity loss, the common cause

The Paris Agreement on Climate Change was adopted in 2015, as part of the 21st 'World Climate Conference'. (6) The 195 states adhering to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change have pledged to take all measures necessary to control the rise in global temperature in the 2st century to within 1,5 degrees Celsius (higher) than pre-industrial levels. And to continue efforts to further limit the temperature rise to within XNUMX degrees Celsius. As well as to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change.

The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), in its own 8.8.19 report, highlighted how some of the main causes of climate change are the same ones that cause the loss of biodiversity. Irresponsible management of land, forests and reservoirs. Namely the robbery of the lands (land grabbing) and the consequent deforestation, to make way for incendiary and bloody monocultures.

The responsibilities of Europe

The European Union it plays a crucial role in achieving the aforementioned objectives, which in turn are closely linked to biodiversity. In fact, Europe is still the leading area on the planet in terms of volumes and values of trade in agricultural and food commodities. And it has a duty to put an end to dumping social and environmental related to the import of goods resulting from abuses of fundamental human rights and ecocides.

The European Commission - under the leadership of Jean-Claude Juncker (2014-2019) - has instead failed in its duties to stop deforestation. And it has favored, rather than hindered, imports into Europe of the most unsustainable commodities. Through toxic treaties without any conditions aimed at preventing the horrors and ecocides from which they derive.

Commercial treaties and politicians concluded by the EU with the Mercosur countries e with Singapore they are the examples of the globalization of exploitation to which Europe has joined in the name and in the dark of its citizens. The ongoing negotiations with Indonesia and the US will aggravate the situation.

The President of the Commission European Ursula von der Leyen has already reassured Donald Trump about the green light at imports of new GMOs into Europe (or PBT, Plant Breeding Techniques), 45 thousand and more of which have already been authorized in the USA in just one year. With what guarantees for public health and ecosystems, what impact assessments on biodiversity?

#Buycott! Palm oil, GMO soy and American meats

Palm oil, GMO soy e meats from the American continent result from the systematic devastation of primary virgin forests in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Let's ask to our political representatives, in Europe and in Italy, to stop the socio-ecological dumping in progress. We cannot accept continuing to feed the global demand for food that endangers life on the planet. We must expect the adoption of binding commitments to comply with the Guidelines adopted by Committee on World Food Security (CFS) at FAO, under the leadership of José Graziano da Silva. (7) To put an end to land robbery and deforestation that precede irresponsible investment in agriculture. And encourage the new FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu to strengthen related programs.

#Buycott! Palm oil, GMO soybeans and meat from the American continent is the only tool available to all of us, to express with our daily consumption choices the indignation towards operators and products that continue to make use of the 'easier' and irresponsible choice . Since their savings on raw materials have an unacceptable cost for the planet and those who inhabit it.

▶ ️ We invite all our readers to subscribe and advertise the petition #Buycott!, following the link https://www.egalite.org/buycott-petizione. And to consider the opportunity to impose change with pressure from below, every day, thanks to one sustainable spending. Thank you!

Dario Dongo

Note

(1) World in 'on notice' as major UN report shows one million species face extinction, A News City of Kyiv, Ukraine,

(2) IPBES, Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (2019). Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services,

(3) R. Gray, Sixth mass extinction could destroy life as we know it - biodiversity expert, Horizon City of Kyiv, Ukraine,

(4) WWF, Causes of the loss,

(5) L. Marfoli (2012). Biodiversity: a twenty-year international journey. Quarterly magazine of environmental law n. 3/2012, G. Giappichelli publisher

(6) United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Paris Agreement, in force since 4.11.16,

(7) FAO, Committee on World Food Security (CFS), The Voluntary Guidelines on the Tenure of Land Fisheries and Forests City of Kyiv, Ukraine,

FAO, Committee on World Food Security (CFS), Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems, 15.10.14

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