Reports indicate the creation of 295 million jobs by 2030; the losses would be more than double that amount
In addition to safeguarding life on Earth for future generations, containing the growing loss of biodiversity and the services it provides can be profitable. This is what the most recent summaries for decision makers from IPBES (Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services) indicate.
The 2 documents were launched on December 17th and 18th after the , in Windhoek, Namibia.
Reports point to the creation of 295 million jobs and more than $10 trillion in business opportunities by 2030 in sustainable or nature-centered activities. The losses caused by the lack of action would be more than twice that amount.
The documents also show the need for a reconnection of people with nature, in order to make the 75% of the world’s population who live in cities change habits to contain the destruction of biodiversity on the planet and its consequences, such as the loss of pollination, rain, food and other services provided by nature.
The summaries are the result of 2 diagnoses constructed from the 1st global assessment of the state of nature, published by IPBES in 2019.
At the time, the document pointed out that the only way to achieve sustainable development objectives would be through transformative changes, the theme of one of the reports released now, .
“An important message is the cost of inactivity. If we continue to do what we always do, it will come at a high cost in the coming years. Much greater than the opportunities that exist, such as ecological restoration, which generates a large number of jobs and brings back a series of ecosystem services”says Carlos Joly, professor emeritus at Unicamp (State University of Campinas), member of the Initiative’s coordination and coordinator of the (Brazilian Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services).
Joly was one of the reviewers of chapter 5 of the diagnosis that provided the basis for the now released summary of transformative changes. The diagnoses are disclosed after the summaries and do not depend on approval by the plenary.
Transformative changes
The document on transformative changes brings 6 sets of interventions that can be carried out in a complementary way so that transformations can be made. These are systemic, structural changes, involving the empowerment of historically marginalized groups, the co-creation between science and other traditional knowledge systems, the use of advances in science and technology and the internal transformation of people.
“The latter is the most difficult to achieve, but also the one that can bring the most results in the medium and long term. It’s a change in values, in how people relate to the environment they live in and their consumption patterns.”says Cristiana Seixas, researcher at Nepam-Unicamp (Center for Environmental Studies and Research), member of the coordination of the Fapesp Program for the South Atlantic and Antarctica and author of one of the chapters of the diagnosis.
Biodiversity, water, food and health
The other summary for decision makers released by IPBES was the , or Nexo report. The document takes into account the connection that biodiversity has with the availability of water and food, in addition to people’s health.
“The basis of the discussion here is humanity as part of nature. Biodiversity and ecosystem services make up the life of society and this integrated vision is one of the beauties of IPBES”says Jean Ometto, researcher at Inpe (National Institute for Space Research) and member of the coordination of the Fapesp Research Program on Global Climate Change.
Ometto is one of the authors of the governance chapter of the Nexo report. The document highlights, among other topics, that integrated governance approaches can help respond to common challenges relating biodiversity, water, food, health and climate change.
Approaches must focus on public policies, institutions and actions that promote integration, inclusion, equity and responsibility. However, existing actions, which typically have sectoral perspectives as their starting point, end up resulting in misaligned, redundant and inconsistent governance, failing to bring about positive change.
“Adaptation to climate change in a city, for example, cannot be sectoral. There are different instances, territories, social layers that are being and will be affected by floods or lack of rain, for example. In turn, these affect aspects such as health, access to food, transportation. It is necessary to interconnect actions so that solutions have a broader and more lasting spectrum, making the best of each one of them”says the researcher.
For Joly, the main point of the two reports, which result from a demand from the 188 signatory countries of the Convention on Biological Diversity, is the change in the economic model, currently based on the predatory exploitation of natural resources. The proposed changes not only bring the prospect of recovery of ecosystem services, but also opportunities for fairer economic development for all.
With information from .
