The agreement to establish Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was one of the main outcomes of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development held in Rio de Janeiro in June 2012 (Rio+20). The SDGs are to provide a transformative, integrated and universal approach that strives for a world that is just, equitable and inclusive, and promotes sustained and inclusive economic growth, social development, and environmental protection. They will build on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which were to be achieved by 2015.
The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, noting the intergovernmental process on sustainable development goals established in the outcome document of the Rio+20 Conference in the context of the United Nations development agenda beyond 2015, and stressing the importance of integrating biodiversity into these processes, noting the relevance of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets, invited all Parties and stakeholders to integrate the three objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity into sustainable development and poverty eradication programmes, plans, policies and priority actions, taking into account the outcomes of the Rio+20 Conference.
Biodiversity is important for sustainable development in many ways. Biodiversity is the critical foundation of the Earth’s life support system on which the welfare of current and future generations depends. Humans depend on ecosystems services for many basic needs. The foundations of many cultures, rural areas and cities also depend on the services provided by ecosystems. The impact of environmental degradation is most severe among the rural population living in poverty, since they have few livelihood options. Therefore, access to and sustainable use of biodiversity by the poor are of direct relevance to efforts aimed at poverty reduction and sustainable development.
The SDGs represent an important development that will contribute to the achievement of the Convention and the Strategic Plan. Implementation of the new SDGs is expected to promote transformational change in economies and societies. It will lead to improved governance and institutions at multiple scales that better integrate consideration of biodiversity in government policies.
Economic growth contributes to poverty eradication, but must be pursued in a socially equitable way and environmentally sustainable manner, with a reduced impact on biodiversity and ecosystems, if it is to address the multiple dimensions of human well-being in a sustainable manner, taking into account the needs of future generations. Growth will be essential in developing countries to eradicate poverty, and must therefore be decoupled from resource consumption and from negative impacts on biodiversity. Carbon neutral (or even carbon-negative) growth will be an important part of this transformation. It will almost certainly be necessary to look beyond growth-based prosperity, especially in high-income countries.
The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, or Rio+20, held in in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 20-22 June 2012, resulted in a focused political outcome document which contains clear and practical measures for implementing sustainable development.
The Rio+20 outcome included the following as the overarching objectives and essential requirements for sustainable development:
Poverty eradication, changing unsustainable and promoting sustainable patterns of consumption and production and protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development are the overarching objectives of and essential requirements for sustainable development. Poverty eradication is the greatest global challenge facing the world today and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. The Rio+20 outcome document, as a matter of urgency, reiterated the commitment to freeing humanity from poverty and hunger.
People are at the centre of sustainable development. In this regard, Rio+20 promised to strive for a world that is just, equitable and inclusive, and committed to working together to promote sustained and inclusive economic growth, social development and environmental protection and thereby to benefit all. Poverty eradication can only be achieved if a number of structural factors such as livelihood, food security, health, education, employment, equality, inclusive growth, access to basic services and empowerment of individuals, can be addressed jointly in a sustainable manner, including the sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystems.
Biodiversity and the SDGs
In order to achieve a just balance among the economic, social and environmental needs of present and future generations, it is necessary to promote harmony with nature. The Sustainable Development Goals acknowledge the natural and cultural diversity of the world, and confirm that all cultures and civilizations can contribute to sustainable development.
The Sustainable Development Goals are accompanied by targets and will be further elaborated through indicators focused on measurable outcomes. Action-oriented, global in nature and universally applicable, the goals take into account different national realities, capacities and levels of development and respect national policies and priorities. They build on the foundation laid by the MDGs, seek to complete the unmet targets of the MDGs and respond to new challenges. The goals and targets integrate economic, social and environmental aspects and recognize their interlinkages in achieving sustainable development in all its dimensions.
Biodiversity relates to all 17 Sustainable Development Goals but there are two proposed goals that explicitly refer to it; goals 14 and 15.
Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
Goal 14 focuses on coastal and ocean ecosystems and biodiversity.
Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
Goal 15 includes targets related to specific ecosystems and challenges. It also includes language related to cross-cutting policies. In particular, target 15.9 states:
15.9: by 2020, integrate ecosystems and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes and poverty reduction strategies, and accounts
Other targets associated with biodiversity
