As countries from around the world gather at Nature COP 16 in Cali, Colombia to discuss the implementation and financing of the new Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) is hopeful that all levels of government in Canada will develop effective plans and commit adequate long-term financial resources to protect nature, including to conserve at least 30 per cent of land and ocean by 2030. CPAWS has sent a strong delegation to COP 16 to call on decision makers to take immediate action to ensure Canada’s land, freshwater and ocean is effectively protected.
Positive steps have been taken by the Canadian federal government in recent years, including the development of the 2030 Nature Strategy, its commitment to the 30 per cent by 2030 protection targets in the GBF, making historic investments, and supporting Indigenous-led conservation. However, much of this investment needs renewing in the upcoming budget to continue to deliver results. Several provincial and territorial governments have made strides on protecting nature, while others have remained stagnant or fallen behind. CPAWS will release a report in early 2025 on Canada’s progress towards the 2030 conservation targets.
A Government of Canada report published this past May warned that failure to address the biodiversity crisis poses a serious threat to the nation’s clean-air, water and food supply, as well as the health and well-being of all Canadians. Inaction could also lead to major economic losses and instability, with industries such as fishing, farming and logging particularly hard hit.
COP 16 marks the first global summit since the GBF was adopted by 196 countries, including Canada, in December 2022.
“Canada played a key role in landing an ambitious global strategy to save nature at COP 15 in Montreal,” said Sandra Schwartz, CPAWS’s National Executive Director. “CPAWS is at COP 16 because of the urgency and importance of the moment. Canada cannot wait any longer to solidify and finance its plan to protect land, freshwater, and ocean. Now is the time for bold action to implement the strategy that was committed to.”
Biodiversity loss is an environmental, economic, and social crisis, impacting everything from wildlife habitat to community food security. At COP 16, representatives from 196 nations will convene to discuss how to fulfill the global commitments agreed to at COP 15. These include protecting at least 30 per cent of land, freshwater, and ocean by 2030, increasing financial investments to support conservation strategies over the long term, recognizing Indigenous rights and territories, and integrating nature’s needs into decision-making processes. CPAWS will have representatives from the national office, Northern and Southern Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec chapters attending COP16, as well as a representative on the Canadian delegation.
CPAWS’s Quebec chapter, SNAP-Quebec, will host an official side-event focusing on solutions to the underlying causes of biodiversity loss. “Working on habitat protection is important, but not enough. We must also create space for a positive dialogue on the necessary transformative changes that must be made to our economic and value systems, which are responsible for biodiversity loss and climate change,” states Alain Branchaud, executive director at SNAP Québec.
CPAWS’s Northern Alberta and Southern Alberta chapters are hosting a panel discussion to highlight opportunities for sub-national governments of resource-dependent economies to successfully protect nature in their regions. “Halting and reversing biodiversity loss will require real changes to land management in Alberta and we look forward to the government committing to a nature strategy that is actionable and commits to increase protected areas and strong public land management,” says Kecia Kerr, Executive Director of CPAWS Northern Alberta Chapter.
Katie Morrison, Executive Director of CPAWS’s Southern Alberta chapter states, “We want to see the Government of Alberta make decisive commitments to nature – accompanied by specific, tangible actions – that protect communities, livelihoods, and our invaluable ecosystems upon which we all rely.”
Ron Thiessen, Executive Director of CPAWS’ Manitoba chapter states, “We’ll be highlighting Manitoba’s commitment to protecting 30% of its lands and waters by 2030 by working with Indigenous communities. At COP16, we’ll be asking national and international conservation investors to financially invest in Manitoba to help achieve 30×30. As it’s especially important that our own governments invest, we’re also urging the provincial and federal governments to ensure sufficient funding and dedicated support is in place to turn this vision into reality.”
Canadians are depending on all levels of government to come together and do their part to ensure our global commitments are realized. The evidence is clear: continuing with business-as-usual approaches and sidelining these urgent dual-crises for other priorities is no longer acceptable.
