Post-2020 biodiversity targets need to embrace climate change

Area of Science:

• Environmental science
• Conservation biology
• Climate science

Background:

• International reports highlight risks from unsustainable resource use, a primary driver of biodiversity loss.
• Climate change is an escalating threat to biodiversity, impacting human societies globally.
• Existing biodiversity targets often neglect climate change impacts and mitigation effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze how climate change risks compromise existing and proposed international biodiversity targets.
• To advocate for revising biodiversity targets to align with climate agreements and sustainable development goals.
• To promote flexible conservation approaches that account for climate change impacts.

Main Methods:

• Review and analysis of current international biodiversity targets.
• Assessment of climate change projections and their potential impact on conservation goals.
• Examination of the Convention on Biological Diversity's post-2020 framework.

Main Results:

• Many proposed biodiversity targets are at risk of failure due to climate change.
• Even optimistic climate warming scenarios threaten the feasibility of current conservation aspirations.
• Static conservation goals are insufficient to address dynamic environmental changes.

Conclusions:

• Future biodiversity targets must explicitly address climate change risks.
• Flexible and dynamic conservation strategies are essential for adapting to environmental shifts.
• Integrating biodiversity and climate action is crucial for human well-being and planetary health.