1. Climate Change is Important, But What About Biodiversity?
The Loss of Biodiversity
Biodiversity has been a critical component in the development of human society. Unfortunately, the expansion of human activities has led to a rapid decline of biodiversity and an accelerated rate of species extinction. The impact of biodiversity loss is growing year on year, with consequences such as the depletion of fishery resources and the decline in bee populations directly affecting our lives, particularly in terms of food supplies.
Earth Summit
Despite the seriousness of biodiversity loss, it did not receive as much attention as climate change did.
At the 1992 Earth Summit, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) were established to address these respective issues. The UNFCCC benefited from the scientific insights provided by the IPCC, which was established in 1988 ahead of the summit. In contrast, the CBD lacked a comparable support framework.
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
A key turning point in environmental awareness was the 2005 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) report. It was the first large-scale environmental assessment for global ecosystems, based on extensive evidence collected from around the world. The report highlighted the negative impact that declines in populations of bees, butterflies, birds, and bats had on agricultural production, and emphasized the vital role that nature and wildlife play in preventing soil erosion and protecting water resources. Until then, biodiversity conservation had largely been viewed in terms of species conservation, such as "protecting the panda." Thanks to the MA, many people began to understand the close connection between biodiversity and people.
However, the MA was a one-off initiative; at that time, there was no framework for conducting such assessments on a regular basis.
As a result, momentum grew around the idea that just as the IPCC assesses climate change, a mechanism for the ongoing assessment of biodiversity is needed. After approximately seven years of international discussions, IPBES was established in 2012–about 20 years after the Earth Summit.
