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Dear Planetary Steward, dear friend of the Global Commons Alliance,
This week UN negotiations to safeguard global biodiversity are back, following unfinished talks in COP16 in Colombia last year. Progress so far includes the launch of the Cali Fund for biodiversity action. During an opening session COP16 President Susana Muhamad said that despite a fragmented geopolitical landscape, delegations reconvening in Rome will agree on “the fundamentals” of protecting life. Key issues include transforming agrifood systems, mobilizing $200 billion each year by 2030 for the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and slashing harmful incentives by $500 billion a year. This is the scale of resources required to protect and restore the global commons, that underpin all life.
Companies can begin to align with the GBF by obtaining a stamp of approval through the GCA Accountability Accelerator’s new validation services, which opened last week for companies working to set science-based targets for nature. The service will review businesses’ work to assess their nature impacts and set targets, and determine if submissions are in line with the latest science for reversing and halting nature loss by 2030 – as laid out by the GCA’s Science Based Targets Network (SBTN).
Natasha Matic, Executive Director of the Accountability Accelerator, said: “Science-based targets for nature build business resilience, boost investor confidence and help companies align with regulatory requirements – and momentum behind them is growing.”
Erin Billman, Executive Director, SBTN, said: “Validated targets are the foundation for credible action and accountability, and we urge all companies to follow our corporate trailblazers.” Global sustainability leaders Christiana Figueres, Marco Lambertini and Paul Polman welcomed this milestone for corporate credibility in addressing the nature crisis. We urge companies to step up and lead the way for a nature-positive future.
While corporate accountability for nature continues to move ahead, political action must keep up in order to build secure, healthy and prosperous communities. Germany’s election results this week mean climate and nature may not be a priority for the country, despite our 2024 survey with Earth4All and Ipsos UK revealing that a majority of German citizens want urgent action. But as we know, it is the most vulnerable nations that suffer disproportionately when powerful countries do not act with the urgency required. As the GCA Earth Commission’s Safe and Just science shows us, justice must be a prerequisite for the safety of our living planet and all people.
Last week, the Earth Commission convened in South Africa to revisit the progress made so far in the second phase of assessing the science about the planet’s Safe and Just boundaries, outline the transformations pathways towards a prosperous future, and set clear goals for the coming year. We look forward to sharing more soon from these leading natural and social scientists.
While there is no single solution for the nature and climate crisis, we all have a role to play. This is your invitation to step up for nature.
All my best,
Jane
