Today’s World Environment Day focuses on combating land degradation and restoring damaged landscapes. It so happens that it falls during the UN Climate Meetings in Bonn, Germany.

The 60th Sessions of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Subsidiary Bodies will build on the many mandates that emerged at COP28 in Dubai, and aim to drive forward progress on key issues and prepare decisions for adoption at the COP29 UN Climate Change Conference in Azerbaijan, in November this year.

We’ve pulled some useful information and facts together (all checked at trustworthy sources) this World Environment Day, so you don’t have to.

What’s the target?

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a 2022 landmark pact to protect nature, commits countries to ensuring that by 2030 at least 30 per cent of degraded terrestrial, inland water, and marine and coastal ecosystems are under effective restoration.

Successful land restoration requires generations to use knowledge and ambition as the driving force. Everybody alive now is part of a generation that is the first to witness the devastating effects of environmental degradation.

So what does land degradation and restoration look like?

We blogged before about the Global Risk Report and this was linked to the second highest risk – rising temperatures. Think of the dramatic temperatures rising across the world and what impact that has on land – floods, droughts, fires and more. We may even face more severe and prolonged periods of exaggerated temperatures and it’s crucial we find ways to stop burning, land turning to desert, water sources stopping and the ground literally turning to dust.

While that might sound like an insurmountable task, it is not, say experts. And being World Environment Day we’re seeking the positive!

If you’re looking for any tips in communicating climate change and sustainability, here’s a post I wrote before which you might find useful

Are you #GenerationRestoration?

I do love a campaign hashtag. Something nice to follow across different channels. The campaign this year has a really handy guide and includes a breakdown of how we can all contribute, including governments, individuals, cities, households, clubs/associations and faith-based organisations to name a handful:

• Make agriculture sustainable
• Save the soil
• Bring back the buzz (let’s bee friendly!)

 

Fun fact: Close to 75 per cent of the world’s fruit and seed crops depend, at least in part, on pollinators including 87 of 115 leading food crops worldwide.

• Restore freshwater ecosystems
• Renew marine and coastal areas
• Generate finance for restoration

Restoring 1 billion hectares of degraded land globally will go a long way towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, reversing nature loss and curbing climate change.

Finance remains one of the biggest barriers to achieving these targets. Government, business and finance leaders must work together to close the existing finance gap and therefore breaking down barriers to help achieve the target of at least 30 per cent of degraded terrestrial, inland water, and marine and coastal ecosystems are under effective restoration.

Laura Sutherland. 

Account director.

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