Nine philanthropic organisations launched the “Protecting Our Planet Challenge” at a high-level event in the margins of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, pledging US$5 billion to protect and conserve 30 per cent of the planet by 2020 by supporting protected areas and Indigenous stewardship of their territories.
It is regarded as the most significant philanthropic commitment to nature conservation. The science-based 30×30 objective has emerged as a vital component of the draught 10-year strategy for the Convention on Biological Diversity, which is set to be ratified at COP15 in Kunming, China in April 2022.
ASEAN States have addressed the significant issue of biodiversity funding throughout the Convention on Biological Diversity negotiations. According to a landmark study, current global biodiversity spending has to rise by more than a factor of five to conserve the world’s most significant biodiversity.
Over a dozen heads of State, Indigenous leaders, and high-ranking UN officials attended the event, which resulted in new funding promises from countries and international organisations to help address the biodiversity budget gap.
Dr Zakri Abdul Hamid, Ambassador and Science Advisor to the Campaign for Nature, and former Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of Malaysia, said: “I am pleased to see more funding committed
to protected and conserved areas, and I look forward to seeing more ASEAN member states embracing the 30×30 global target.
“Science has clearly shown that this is the minimum amount of conservation needed to help curb global biodiversity loss, and economic research has shown that achieving 30×30 will create jobs and spur economic growth.” – @Green
