Press release | 06 Oct, 2010

Last chance talks for life on earth?

Background: Talks to halt the spiralling loss of biodiversity, which is threatening the existence of all life on earth, will take place in Nagoya, Japan from 18 to 29 October. Thousands of decision makers will meet to discuss a “big plan” for the next ten years to reduce the current pressures on the planet’s biodiversity. On the table at the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP10), are 20 targets designed to tackle the extinction crisis and restore the earth’s natural capital.

Photo: Rebecca Cairns-Wicks

Photo: IUCN / Jeffrey McNeely

Photo: IUCN Photo Library © Imène Meliane

IUCN, which helped develop the Convention and plays a key role in its implementation, will be present at the conference, trying to ensure that sound biodiversity science underpins the decisions taken there and that governments commit to an ambitious, courageous and yet realistic plan to halt the loss of biodiversity. IUCN is calling for effective financing to fund efforts to save the natural world, pointing out that such funding can be generated by moving towards a green economy. IUCN also calls for governments to pull out all stops to reach agreement on a new international regime to give access to the world’s genetic resources while at the same time making sure that benefits derived from them are properly shared.

Key Issues:

• “In Japan we have a unique opportunity to get everyone – governments, businesses and the public – on board to address the crisis facing life on earth,” says Julia Marton-Lefèvre, Director General of IUCN. “We urge governments to invest in our natural capital and stop the loss of biodiversity once and for all, by adopting a robust strategic plan with measurable and realistic targets.”
• “We’re at the point of no return in so many areas of the natural world, losing countless numbers of species and the essential services of the natural environment in which we live,” says Jane Smart, Director, IUCN Biodiversity Conservation Group. “The conference in Nagoya could be the last chance to come up with a new plan that works – there is no Plan B and certainly no Planet B.”

Press Events:

Tue 19 Oct 11H00 Media Briefing – International Press Release Marine Report
Wed 20 Oct 11H00 Media Briefing – International Press Release Countdown 2010
Fri 22 Oct 11H00 Media Briefing – Press Statement Invasive Species and Climate Change
Mon 25 Oct 11H00 Media Briefing – Press Statement Mainstreaming Gender in Biodiversity
Tue 26 Oct 12H30 Media Briefing – International Press Release Asian Plant Conservation Report
Tue 26 Oct 18H15 Media Briefing – IUCN Reuters COMplus Media Awards
Wed 27 Oct 11H00 Media Briefing – International Press Release IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Thu 28 Oct 14H30 Media Briefing – International Press Release Launch of Save Our Species
Fri 29 Oct 11H00 Media Briefing – IUCN reaction to CBD outcome

Media team:

Nicki Chadwick, Media Relations Officer, m +41 79 528 3486, e nicki.chadwick@iucn.org
Brian Thomson, Media Relations Manager, m +41 79 721 8326, e brian.thomson@iucn.org
Ewa Magiera, Communications Officer, m +41 76 771 4208, e ewa.magiera@iucn.org