The critical role Asean and EU play in restoring biodiversity

Critical ecosystems need considerable human assistance to recover. - The Straits Times/Asia News Network

SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): Until recently, international meetings on biodiversity, held under the auspices of the Convention on Biodiversity, have suffered relative anonymity compared with higher-profile climate negotiations. While nature groups and environmental scientists have long pointed out the link between climate and biodiversity crises, climate solutions have neglected biodiversity in favour of renewable energy or green technology development.

The recent COP15 in Montreal ratified a new post-2020 Biodiversity Framework, with notable elements in setting aside 30% of the earth’s land and oceans for the protection of nature, and restoring at least 30% of the world’s degraded habitats.