NEWS RELEASE
Date: 12 June 2007
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Biodiversity is crucial in the fight against climate change - Gardiner
The crucial role of biodiversity in tackling climate change was today highlighted by Barry Gardiner, Biodiversity Minister, at an international conference at the Royal Society.
Mr Gardiner launched, Biodiversity indicators in your pocket 2007, a set of 18 indicators which tracks the UK’s progress against international biodiversity targets. This is the first time that a comprehensive set of biodiversity indicators has been published for the UK. A specific indicator has been developed to monitor how changes in climate, particularly temperature, is influencing biodiversity.
Defra has also published a review of current research into climate change and biodiversity in England: “England Biodiversity Strategy: towards adaptation to climate change”. The report reviews the evidence of climate change on biodiversity in England and considers options for adapting policies to reduce these impacts. The evidence in the report on how temperature changes impact on biodiversity, also supports the findings of the biodiversity indicator on climate change.
Addressing the audience of leading global academics and policy officials, at the Biodiversity-Climate Interactions conference. Mr Gardiner said:
“Many people still talk about climate change as if it is only a long-term threat. But the fact is that it is already happening, and we need to deal with the realities of climate change and the problems it is creating for society and the environment today.
“But biodiversity is also one of our greatest weapons in the battle against climate change. So it is critical that any action plan to reduce climate change, includes the effective and sustainable management of our ecosystems” .
“The biodiversity indicators highlight just how vulnerable our precious biodiversity is to climate change. Despite long-term declines in the indicators for many species and habitats such as farmland birds and butterflies, there are some early signs of recovery or a slowing of the declines in some areas.”
James Williams, Reporting Standards Manager at the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) said:
“JNCC welcomes the publication of Biodiversity Indicators in Your Pocket 2007. These indicators are an essential first step towards measuring the 2010 target.”
Key findings of the Biodiversity Indicators:
Notes to editors
1) Climate change and biodiversity workshop
Biodiversity-Climate Interactions: Adaptation, Mitigation and Human Livelihoods has been organised by the Global Biodiversity Sub-Committee of the UK Global Environmental Change Committee and The Royal Society. The two day international workshop was co-hosted by the Royal Society, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Department for International Development, Natural Environment Research Council, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Met office.
The workshop aims to identify key areas in which biodiversity, climate change, sustainable development, science and policy can be coordinated to maximise opportunities for addressing the climate change issue. Identifying and maximising these links will be crucial for constructing future policy for sustainable development.
2) Biodiversity indicators in your pocket 2007
The indicators are grouped under the six focal areas identified by the Convention on Biological Diversity and the European Council. They show UK’s progress towards two international biodiversity targets.
1. In 2001, European Union Heads of State or Government agreed that biodiversity decline should be halted with the aim of reaching this objective by 2010.
2. In 2002, Heads of State at the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development committed themselves to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national level as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on Earth.
The publication and associated data are also presented on the JNCC website: http://www.jncc.gov.uk/biyp
3) England Biodiversity Strategy: towards adaptation to climate change report
The report is available from the Defra website http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/biodiversity/index.htm
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Page published: 11 June 2007