G7 ministers commit to tackle global nature loss by 2030

The UK played a key role in developing the GBF and was represented at the meeting by environment secretary Therese Coffey and secretary of state for energy security and net zero, Grant Shapps. Guest countries, including India, Indonesia and the UAE, were also in attendance, the government of UK said in a press release.

The ministers also highlighted the need to mobilise funding from all sources to support developing countries in protecting nature. They committed to dedicating a significant amount of international climate finance to nature-based solutions that deliver benefits for climate, people and nature. The ministers called on multilateral development banks (MBDs) and international financial institutions (IFIs) to do the same, while also urging businesses to progressively reduce negative impacts on biodiversity and increase positive impacts.

During the meeting, Coffey called on her fellow ministers to deliver on existing commitments to increase finance for nature to close the nature finance gap and to scrap or repurpose environmentally harmful subsidies.

In addition to the commitments related to biodiversity, the ministers also pledged to redouble their efforts to end plastic pollution by 2040, halt and reverse forest loss by 2030, protect marine biodiversity in the high seas, and reduce pollution.

Environment secretary Therese Coffey said: “The G7 have committed to the swift and effective implementation of the landmark Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.

“Following this historic agreement reached at COP15 last year, I am delighted to have met my G7 counterparts today to discuss ways we can build on this as a global community and tackle the challenges we all face with meaningful and urgent action.

“We have seen tremendous progress this weekend and it has been great to see our countries working together to raise our ambition and lead by example, each playing our part.”

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)