Timezone 1 United Nations Environment Assembly 2 Loss of Biodiversity - World Federation of United Nations Associations
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Timezone 1 United Nations Environment Assembly 2 Loss of Biodiversity
Foreword
Dear participant,
Thank you for joining us for the WFUNA International Model United
Nations Geneva Online 2021 Conference. We are excited that you are
interested in being involved with Model UN, and WIMUN in particular,
during the ongoing global health pandemic.
While we are sad that we will not be able to welcome you in person, we
look forward to an incredible online experience with you. This resource
guide provides you with useful links and resources to help you prepare for
the upcoming discussions during WIMUN Geneva Online.
We recommend that you take a careful look at them and use the provided
information to guide your additional research.
Page 1 of 8 Copyright © WFUNA 2021. All rights reserved.Topic Description
The biodiversity we see today is the result of 4.5 billion years of evolution.
It forms the web of life, of which we are an integral part and upon which
we so fully depend.
Most scientists agree that species are now disappearing hundreds, of even
thousands, of times faster than the natural rate of extinction. The
scientific community has repeatedly sounded the alarm on this crisis and
its principal causes: habitat loss, over-exploitation, pollution and climate
change.
The need to conserve biodiversity is applied to both the land and marine
environment. While the primary biodiversity Goals (SDG 14 and 15) seek
to conserve and sustainably use the land and marine environment, all 17
SDGs ultimately depend on healthy ecosystems and biodiversity. Yet,
recent assessments show that the least progress is being made in
achieving these two goals. There is an urgent need to value and recognize
the contribution that nature makes to human wellbeing; and to develop
and implement solutions that actively conserve or restore biodiversity in
sustainable ways in order to address societal challenges like poverty,
inequality and climate change.
Page 2 of 8 Copyright © WFUNA 2021. All rights reserved.UN Resources
CBD Action Agenda for Nature and People
Summary: The Action Agenda includes 169 promises from governments,
the commercial sector, non-governmental organisations, and academic
and research institutes, among others. Published: 2021
UN Policy and Reports
UN Report: Nature’s Dangerous Decline ‘Unprecedented’; Species
Extinction Rate Accelerating
Summary: This article contains facts supporting the obvious problem at
hand of loss of biodiversity. It also talks about reports such as “The IPBES
Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Service” which
is the first intergovernmental report of this kind. Published: 2019
UNEP and Biodiversity
Summary: This briefing note was prepared for the 75th session of the
General Assembly and contains important information about biodiversity,
connections to COVID-19, the SDGs, what the United Nations
Environmental Program is doing to solve it by working alongside with
governments and providing related links. Published: 2020
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 14 Life below Water
Summary: This report gives an overview of SDG 14. The infographic on
“Why it Matters” links this goal with biodiversity.
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 15 Life on Land
Page 3 of 8 Copyright © WFUNA 2021. All rights reserved.Summary: This report talks about the plans that the UN has come up with
within the Member States to solve this issue of loss of biodiversity
including several reports, Conventions, and building political will.
Page 4 of 8 Copyright © WFUNA 2021. All rights reserved.Achieving SDG 14 the Role of the United Nations Convention on the Law
of the Sea
Summary: This article talks about what the UN has done in order to
achieve SDG Goal 14 (life under water) which is critical to maintaining
biodiversity in the ocean.
Convention on Biological Diversity, key International Instrument for
Sustainable Development
Summary: The Convention on Biological Diversity is the international legal
instrument for the conservation of biodiversity and plays a big role in
solving the problem at hand, this is part of what the United Nations is
currently doing to reduce the loss of biodiversity.
UN Resolutions
UNGA Resolutions: Commitments to Biodiversity
Summary: This 8-page article is a brief introduction to the current and
most important resolutions that have been created in the UNGA in
relation to biodiversity loss. Published: 2013
UNGA Resolution 74/269: Scope, modalities, format and organization of
the summit on biodiversity adopted on 21 March 2020
Published: 2020
UNGA Resolution 75/271: Nature knows no borders: transboundary
cooperation a key factor for biodiversity conservation, restoration and
sustainable use adopted on 16 April 2021
Published: 2021
The Convention on Biodiversity
Page 5 of 8 Copyright © WFUNA 2021. All rights reserved.Summary: The Convention on Biodiversity, commonly known as the
Biodiversity Convention, is a multilateral treaty. The convention has three
primary goals: biological diversity conservation, long-term utilisation of its
components, and fair and equitable distribution of benefits derived from
genetic resources. All information regarding this convention can be
accessed through the aforementioned link. Published: 2012
The Cartagena Protocol
Summary: Entered into force on September 11th 2003, The Cartagena
Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity governs
the movement of living modified organisms (LMOs) generated from
modern biotechnology from one country to another. All information
regarding this protocol can be accessed through the aforementioned link.
The Nagoya Protocol
Summary: The Nagoya Protocol to the Convention on Biological Diversity
on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of
Benefits Arising from their Use (ABS) is a supplementary accord to the
Convention on Biological Diversity. It establishes a clear legal framework
for the proper fulfilment of one of the CBD's three goals: the fair and
equitable distribution of benefits deriving from the use of genetic
resources.
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
Summary: This page is dedicated to the Convention on the Conservation
of Migratory Species of Wild Animals and refers to the most recent actions
done to avoid extinction and overall protect life on earth and under the
water.
Proceedings, Report Resolutions and Decisions UNEA 2:
Page 6 of 8 Copyright © WFUNA 2021. All rights reserved.Summary: This page is linked to the most important resolutions made in
relevance to loss of biodiversity during the second session of UNEA and
can be accessed through clicking the word document icon.
Page 7 of 8 Copyright © WFUNA 2021. All rights reserved.Non-UN Resources
Nature-based solutions: building blocks for green recovery and climate action
in least developed countries
Summary: This article outlines how nature-based solutions are being placed at
front and centre by least developed countries. Published: 2021
The end of the UN Decade of Biodiversity: what has been achieved?
Summary: This article gives an account of various environmental
commitments and their failures with details and demographics.
Published: 2020
This Is What It’s All About: Protecting Biodiversity in Africa
Summary: This very detailed article talks about the challenges Africa is
facing in terms of biodiversity and what solutions have been implemented
working alongside with the World Bank Group and what results have been
given from those solutions implemented. Published: 2019
Latin America’s Biodiversity is Critical for Global Goals
Summary: With Latin America being actually one of the most biodiverse
regions in the world, this article talks about what action is and can be
taken upon the loss of biodiversity in Latin America. Published: 2020
Plastic pollution threatens marine biodiversity in South-East Asia
Summary: Discusses impact of plastic pollution on biodiversity in SE Asia.
This helps in understanding the linkages between SDG 14 and biodiversity.
Page 8 of 8 Copyright © WFUNA 2021. All rights reserved.You can also read
