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This report provides a policy brief on the Proposal to Achieve the Global Biodiversity Framework Targets in the G20 Countries by 2030, contributed by our Managing Director Shunsuke Managi.
A policy brief on "Proposals to achieve the G20 countries' global biodiversity framework targets by 2030", submitted by Shunsuke Managi, President of our company, was adopted at T20 (Think20) 2023 India, which is positioned as the 'idea bank' of the G20 and consists of experts and think tanks from the G20 countries. The policy brief on "Proposals to achieve the Global Biodiversity Framework Targets in the G20 countries by 2030" was adopted.
Achieving Global Biodiversity Framework Targets in G20 Countries by 2030
https://t20ind.org/research/achieving-global-biodiversity-framework-targets-in-g20-countries-by-2030/
This is the third T20 policy brief to be adopted this year.
Reference: reports of the last two T20 policy briefs.
● [Commentary] G20 T20 India2023 Policy brief on comprehensive national wealth growth measurement using the new national wealth index.
https://aiesg.co.jp/report/20230530_t20india_report/
● [Commentary] G20T20 Policy Brief ~Proposed financing mechanisms to promote natural capital conservation.
https://aiesg.co.jp/report/230807_g20t20_report/
This policy brief is positioned in Task Force 6: Accelerating SDGs-Exploring New Pathways to the 2030 Agenda.
1. biodiversity loss
At COP15 (15th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity), held in Montreal, Canada, from 7-19 December 2022, it was decided to work on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) to halt and restore biodiversity loss by 2030. Biodiversity Framework) in order to halt and restore biodiversity loss by 2030.
The GBF is the first global framework since the Aichi Targets (COP10), adopted in 2010. The Aichi Targets are global targets consisting of 20 individual targets that form the core of the Strategic Plan for the Conservation of Biodiversity 2011-2020. However, the achievement rate of the Aichi Targets is 12%.[1]This has only been achieved, and a fundamental review of promotion methods was strongly desired.
The draft GBF comprises 22 targets and four goals, aiming to protect 30% of the world's land and oceans by 2030.
However, there are four major challenges to achieving the GBF targets
(i) To curb the rapid extinction of various plant and animal species, taking into account anthropogenic pressures and climate change issues.
(ii) Achieve net zero emissions within the specified timeframe.
(iii) tackle the negative impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems caused by environmental problems (e.g. sea level change, acidification of seawater, climate change, pollution, direct exploitation of organisms, invasive alien species)
(iv) Protection of mangroves and other blue carbon ecosystems.
This Policy Brief therefore proposes a framework for achieving the Goal for the Conservation of Biodiversity (GBF).
2. the role of the G20
Sufficient funds need to be allocated for biodiversity conservation.
Biodiversity finance is therefore attracting a lot of attention. Biodiversity finance, the raising and managing of capital and the use of financial incentives to support sustainable biodiversity management, is a current topic of discussion and planning. It links biodiversity conservation practices, strategies and policies with biodiversity financing initiatives (see[2]Bhattacharya and Bhattacharya, 2019(ibid.).
This concept linking economy and biodiversity is expected to help in the proper valuation of biodiversity and its subsequent conservation and protection. It is estimated that between USD 150-440 billion is needed annually for global biodiversity conservation ([3]Arlaud et al, 2018), eliciting investment from the private sector for the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services is a major biodiversity financing challenge.
The financial valuation of biodiversity and ecosystems is crucial for attracting investment.
Measuring development progress relies heavily on internationally comparable, reliable, detailed and timely data. This data must be based on solid indicators that can be disaggregated and derive multidimensional measures of well-being that encompass not only economic and social well-being, but also environmental and ecological sustainability.
International cooperation is essential to adopt a new measurement framework for intergenerational and inclusive well-being.
The G20, with its influence on global policy-making both within and outside the Group, is therefore an ideal platform to give traction to the work of collecting data measuring development progress.
3. recommendations for G20 countries
This section outlines three steps that could be taken to adopt and implement GBF targets across G20 Member States.
Proposal 1: Conservation of urban biodiversity and ecosystems through local indexing mechanisms.
People's Biodiversity Register (PBR) of Indianote 1 (supplementary information)The City Biodiversity Index (CBI) should be mandatory for all cities in G20 countries, as in initiatives such as the CBI (also known as the Singapore Index), which is a tool to assess the status of urban and municipal biodiversity conservation efforts against baseline values and It is a tool for monitoring.
In fact, CBI was conducted in three smart cities in India (Pune, Faridabad and Raipur) and found to be severely lacking in data. Despite its limitations, the CBI scores allow us to identify gaps in biodiversity conservation and related programmes in these cities (Figure 1) and point out areas that need attention to improve biodiversity and ecosystem status (see[4]Bhattacharya, 2017(ibid.).
Figure 1.Comparison of CBI indicators by city (Source: Bhattacharya, 2017)
Recommendation 2: Effective management policies for carbon sequestration and biodiversity protection in different ecosystems.
◎ Wetland ecosystems
To ensure ecological security, there is an urgent need to protect and conserve wetlands and other ecosystems. Wetlands have the greatest carbon sequestration potential of the various ecosystems (Figure 2). However, if wetlands are not managed regularly or in a prescribed manner, they can become a source of carbon emissions (see[5]Biswas et al. 2018) Therefore, the judicious use and integrated management of wetlands and regular monitoring are crucial for wetlands, which can increase carbon sequestration rates many times over.
Figure 2. wetlands have the greatest CO2 sequestration potential of any other ecosystem
(Source:[6]Hendriks et al. 2020)
[Main action point.
● Wetland assessments in the State are carried out using GPS technology and the Wetland Health Card
● Report on cessation, recovery and net emissions on a regular basis, and record them in the state emissions inventory.
● Conduct regular awareness-raising programmes for stakeholders
● Maintain ecological parameters, including a combination of ecosystem components, processes and benefits/services provided by wetlands
◎ Blue carbon ecosystem
Coastal blue carbon ecosystems play an important role in atmospheric CO2 sequestration and have the potential to make a significant contribution to achieving net-zero targets and mitigating climate change (see[7]Taillardat et al, 2018). Blue carbon refers to carbon taken up by vegetated coastal habitats and stored by living marine organisms (see[8]Nellemann et al, 2009). Mangroves, salt marshes and seagrass beds are known as blue carbon due to their high carbon stocks and long-term carbon storage capacity (see[9]Akhand et al. 2022(ibid.).
India has a coastline over 7,500 km long and is rich in three blue carbon ecosystems (see[10]Kathiresan, 2018; [11]Jayanthi et al, 2018; [12]Thangaradjou and Bhatt, 2018(Table 1). Table 1 shows the commercial value of blue carbon ecosystems in India (see[13]Pendleton et al, 2012; [9]Akhand et al. 2022(See table 1). The carbon stored in India's mangroves is worth between USD 469-542.7 million. According to statistics, the value of India's blue carbon sequestration is roughly equivalent to the minimum amount of carbon lost each year worldwide.
The protection and enhancement of blue carbon ecosystems is a policy priority for G20 governments.
Table 1. blue carbon ecosystem values in India and their average values
(Source: Akhand et al., 2022)
[Main action point.
● Urgent quantification of ecosystem services provided by mangroves.
● Employ a range of ecosystem service valuation methods to calculate the accurate commercial value of blue carbon, including IPBES methods, natural capital accounting, investment modelling, cost-benefit analysis and transfer cost methods.
● The Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) model can be used to quantify carbon sequestration, sediment retention and export, and nutrient export ([14]Kadaverugu et al, 2022; [15]Dasgupta, 2021; [16]Hashimoto et al, 2019(ibid.).
● Increased use of remote sensing and GIS-based surveying for ecosystem monitoring, integrated management and resource conservation is crucial for mangrove conservation (see[16]Hashimoto et al, 2019)
● Coastal conservation and development measures are needed to reduce the impact of coastal disasters such as storm surges and cyclones, along with efforts to halt soil erosion.
● Scenario analysis used to improve decision-making processes and develop effective conservation policies for blue carbon ecosystems ([16]Hashimoto et al, 2019)
Proposal 3: Innovative financing for biodiversity conservation through green credit schemes: the Green Credit Mechanism.
If a certain number of ecological units are used for development for economic projects such as resort development or factory construction, these ecological units are lost. If it is difficult for the developer to restore the ecosystem, credits have to be purchased from the market or banks. Where the ecosystem in question is a wetland, river or other aquatic resource, this type of scheme is called mitigation banking. Historically, mitigation banking schemes began in the 1980s.
Today, such conservation banking schemes are increasingly being introduced in countries such as the USA, Australia, France and Germany. It is now time for all G20 countries to introduce green credit mechanisms for conservation financing (see[17]Higashida et al, 2019)
[Key action points.
● Raising sufficient financial resources for nature conservation purposes can be achieved through innovative mechanisms, such as linking the Green Credit Mechanism to national plans and the use of CSR funds.
● Mixed financial planning is needed to ensure a combination of public and private funding accumulation for conservation efforts
It explains the importance of conserving wetlands and blue carbon in order to conserve ecosystems and biodiversity, and suggests necessary financial systems.
Please read on.
*1People's Biodiversity Register (PBR)
Contains comprehensive information on available biological resources (plants, animals, micro-organisms, genetic material, etc.) in specific areas and villages under the control of Biodiversity Management Committees (BMC : Biodiversity Management Committees), which collect information on biological resources at the local level. A legal document; the PBR is prepared by the BMC in consultation with the local population.
Bibliography
[1] Ministry of the Environment: Global Biodiversity Overview 5th edition (GBO5),. https://www.biodic.go.jp/biodiversity/about/aichi_targets/index_05.html
[2]Bhattacharya, Tania and Anindya Bhattacharya. "Financing biodiversity action plan using state appropriation account analysis: a case study of an Indian state." Ecosystem Services 39 (2019): 100971.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212041618303024
[3]Arlaud, Marco et al. "The biodiversity finance initiative: an approach to identify and implement biodiversity-centred finance solutions for sustainable development." Towards a Sustainable Bioeconomy: Principles, Challenges, and Perspectives. (2018): 77-98.
https://www.springerprofessional.de/en/the-biodiversity-finance-initiative-an-approach-to-identify-and-/15402718
[4]Bhattacharya, T.R. "Comparative assessment of ecosystem and biodiversity conservation measures in Indian smart cities: a city biodiversity index approach." Int J Sustain Futur Hum Secur 5, no. 2 (2017): 18.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321664446_Comparative_Assessment_of_Ecosystem_and_Biodiversity_Conservation_Measures_in_Indian_Smart_Cities_A_City_Biodiversity_Index_Approach
[5]Biswas, Protusha, Tania Bhattacharya, Abhra Chanda, Sourav Das and Sugata Hazra. "Urban wetlands-CO2 sink or source? case study on the aquaculture ponds of the East Kolkata wetlands." Int J Recent Sci Res 9 (2018): 24158-24165.
https://recentscientific.com/urban-wetlands-%E2%80%93-co2-sink-or-source-case-study-aquaculture-ponds-east-kolkata-wetlands
[6]Hendriks, Kees, Susan Gubbay, Eric Arets and John Janssen. "Carbon stocks and sequestration in terrestrial and marine ecosystems: a lever for nature restoration?",(2020).
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https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2018.0251
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https://wedocs.unep.org/handle/20.500.11822/7772;jsessionid=6F4072662344967C94290ADB966E51D8
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https://www.i-scholar.in/index.php/CURS/article/view/169210
[11]Jayanthi, M., S. Thirumurthy, G. Nagaraj, M. Muralidhar, and P. Ravichandran. "Spatial and temporal changes in mangrove cover across the protected and unprotected forests of India." Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 213 (2018): 81-91.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272771418302968
[12]Thangaradjou, T. and J.R. Bhatt. "Status of seagrass ecosystems in India." Ocean & Coastal Management 159 (2018): 7-15.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0964569117305021
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[15]Dasgupta, Partha. "The Economics of Biodiversity: the Dasgupta Review. Abridged Version." 2021.
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[16]Hashimoto, Shizuka et al. "Scenario analysis of land-use and ecosystem services of social-ecological landscapes: implications of [16]Hashimoto, Shizuka et al. "Scenario analysis of land-use and ecosystem services of social-ecological landscapes: implications of." Sustainability Science 14 (2019): 53-75.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11625-018-0626-6
[17]Higashida, Keisaku, Kenta Tanaka and Shunsuke Managi. "The efficiency of conservation banking schemes with inter-regionally tradable credits and the role of mediators.." Economic Analysis and Policy 62 (2019): 175-186.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0313592618300766
[Referral document].
Bhattacharya , T. R., Managi, S., & Dasgupta, R. (2023, July).
Policy Briefs T20 for the Presidency of the G20 in 2023, The G20 Insights Platform, Global Solutions Initiative Foundation,Achieving Global Biodiversity Framework Targets in G20 Countries by 2030.
https://t20ind.org/research/achieving-global-biodiversity-framework-targets-in-g20-countries-by-2030/
*Related page*.
T20 Indonesia
https://www.t20indonesia.org/
● [Commentary] G20 T20 India2023 Policy brief on comprehensive national wealth growth measurement using the new national wealth index.
https://aiesg.co.jp/report/20230530_t20india_report/
● [Commentary] G20T20 Policy Brief ~Proposed financing mechanisms to promote natural capital conservation.
https://aiesg.co.jp/report/230807_g20t20_report/