Sunday 22 May was the International Day for Biological Diversity. The theme this year is'Building a shared future for all life', emphasising the need to continue the momentum and support for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework (GBF) to be adopted at the upcoming United Nations Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP 15) which is expected to take place in Autumn 2022.
Supporting global conservation goals
The anticipated GBF and the long-term strategic approach to mainstreaming biodiversity are likely to include new goals, targets and indicators to build on existing biodiversity strategies, encouraging the private sector to make more ambitious plans and further contribute to the global conservation goals.
Promoting the industry's good practice and developing tools to support the industry to operationalise the GBF will be key to its effective implementation. Ipieca will continue to actively engage with its members, partners, and the CBD Secretariat in order to prepare for CBD COP 15, which will mark the launch of the GBF.
Building a better future
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the interdependence between biodiversity and human impacts on the natural environment and human health. This was also highlighted at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26). Biodiversity remains the solution to many sustainable development challenges, from climate to human health, food and security, and sustainable livelihoods.
Through the joint Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (BES) Working Group, Ipieca and IOGP will continue to support members to integrate BES conservation considerations into their business management systems and across the life cycle of oil, gas and alternative energy operations, working across topics including biodiversity action plans, protected areas reporting, implementation of the mitigation hierarchy, industry training and peer learning.