| Published Tuesday, January 12, 2021
50 countries support the environmental plan created by Costa Rica
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
After more than a year of preparation, on Monday the government launched the plan for the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, whose goals are to conserve 30% of the land and sea surface by 2030, stop the loss of mass animal species and protect ecosystems for human well-being and nature.
According to the government, the plan is led by Costa Rica and France, with the United Kingdom as co-leader on maritime issues and backed by 50 more countries.
President Carlos Alvarado was in charge of the official presentation during the virtual edition of One Planet Summit, organized by France.
In addition to Alvarado, the summit was attended by Emmanuel Macron, the President of France; Charles Mountbatten-Windsor, Prince of Wales; Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany; Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister; Pedro Sánchez, President of Spain; Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the UN, among other leaders.
The coalition groups more than 50 countries to reach a global agreement to protect at least 30% of the planet's land and sea. To do so, countries will negotiate this purpose at the next meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity, to be held this year in Kunming, China.
The plan was presented by Costa Rica in September 2019, during the Climate Summit gathered by the Secretary-General of the United Nations in New York. In this event, President Alvarado received the 2019 Champion of the Earth award.
The coalition began from the conviction based on the recommendation of scientists to face both the crisis of biodiversity loss and the climate crisis, with a goal to achieve a minimum of 30% of biodiversity protection by 2030.
"Protecting 30% of the marine and terrestrial area of the planet will unquestionably improve the quality of life of our citizens and will help us achieve a decarbonized and resilient society, setting the grounds for the achievement of the 2030 agenda," President Alvarado said in its statement.
During this time, Alvarado announced the Blue Forever Fund, the first of its kind in Latin America, which will ensure the financial sustainability and long-term conservation of marine biodiversity in the country.
This $3.5 million fund is financed by the Ministry of the Environment and the Costa Rica Forever Association. However, the goal of the authorities is to increase this capital through international donations, to finance projects that allow the government to reach the goal by 2030.
“We have a moral and pragmatic imperative to come together, to make firm decisions that bring us one step closer to reversing the loss of biodiversity and achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement," Alvarado said. "I invite all governments to join me on the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, in the development of a strong and ambitious post-2020 global biodiversity.”
------------------ What else could countries do to fight against climate change? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com
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