Children are still counting on us to protect nature
VANCOUVER / UNCEDED xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh AND səlilwətaɬ TERRITORIES — As the next UN biodiversity summit has just been confirmed to be held in Colombia, the success and execution of the previous groundbreaking agreement remains uncertain.
“Children love animals and nature and they should be at the heart of all biodiversity decisions. Just as we can’t negotiate with nature, we can’t negotiate with our children’s future,” said Andrea Koehle Jones, The ChariTree Foundation’s lead Children’s Biodiversity and Climate Education Advocate.
Global biodiversity is now declining faster than at any point in human history. We are running out of time to take action to stop the accelerating destruction of nature and avoid the extinction of a million species.
We have all seen the unprecedented and imminent danger climate change and biodiversity loss pose to our environment, species, everyone. Global temperatures continue to break records and urgent action is needed to face accelerating climate change and biodiversity loss. This is an emergency that requires immediate action and simply cannot be ignored.
“Kids are really connected to nature. We are also part of the hope to solve the biodiversity crisis. We really want to be involved,” said Aurora Gomez Espinoza, Global Youth Biodiversity Network.
At the Cop28 climate negotiations in Dubai, a significant development occurred for the Kunming-Montreal biodiversity deal. The final text referenced the agreement and raised hopes for recognition of the interconnectedness of biodiversity and climate change. It also highlighted the value of nature, the goal to stop deforestation by 2030, and the role of Indigenous communities.
Canada was a leader at COP15 in Montreal, let’s continue to lead
Since COP15, the federal government has started working with provinces, ENGOs, and knowledge-holders.
The ChariTree Foundation applauds the Government of Canada’s formal commitment to introduce a federal nature accountability bill in 2024. The group says the announcement, made by federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault at COP28, is an important step that could help put Canada on the path to halting and reversing nature loss and achieving its international biodiversity commitments.
The announcement comes a year after Canada hosted COP15, the United Nations Biodiversity Conference, where 196 countries brokered the landmark Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The GBF sets out an ambitious plan to restore nature, including a commitment to protect 30 per cent of lands and oceans by 2030.
“The ChariTree Foundation is dedicated to promoting the historic Kunming-Montreal global biodiversity deal to safeguard nature. This trailblazing deal will give children around the world more opportunities to get outdoors and fall in love with nature. That’s important because you protect what you love and that means more kids will grow up to protect nature too.”
Andrea Koehle Jones, Executive Director & Lead Children’s Environmental Education Advocate, The ChariTree Foundation
Let’s build momentum because kids everywhere are counting on us to:
1. Protect at least 30 percent of Canada’s land and water by the year 2030: Prioritize areas where nature is under imminent threat, and ecosystems that safeguard biodiversity and store significant amounts of carbon.
2. Provide accessibility to formal and informal climate and biodiversity education for children.
3. Support Indigenous-led conservation efforts (including Indigenous Guardian programs) and fully implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
4. Pursue nature based solutions to climate change by protecting and restoring critical ecosystems while providing permanent funding for the protection of nature.
5. Restore urban biodiversity and expand equitable access to nature: Work with provinces and municipalities to ensure every neighborhood in Canada has at least 30 percent tree cover, and every person lives within 300 meters of green space.
The time for nature is now
We can’t afford to lose momentum.
Together, we can halt and reverse biodiversity loss on a planetary scale.
ENDS
The ChariTree Foundation is a United Nations Climate Observer Organization, putting children’s rights at the forefront of climate action to improve their education, health, and future.
Follow The ChariTree Foundation @love_trees on Twitter (X) for the latest.
For more information, contact Andrea Koehle Jones at info@charitree-foundation.org
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