The global biodiversity conference is being held in Pyeongchang, South Korea, from 6 to 17 October 2014. The conference plays a key role in achieving the goal of stopping biodiversity loss by 2020, which was agreed internationally in 2010. The fourth Global Biodiversity Outlook, to be presented at the meeting, provides a mid-term assessment of progress made towards this goal. The German delegation is being led by Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Environment Ministry (BMUB) Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter who is participating in the meeting's high-level segment.
Schwarzelühr-Sutter commented: "We have made good progress globally in some areas, for instance in the designation of protected areas. We must not ease our efforts in this respect and need to focus on the rigorous implementation of the existing European nature conservation directives. In many other areas, however, we have to step up our activities considerably. For example, it is vital for the conservation of biodiversity that fisheries, agriculture and forestry as well as our consumption patterns in general are made more sustainable. The conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity must be taken into account in all relevant decision-making processes, including the process of drawing up the new global UN sustainability targets."
In 2010, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted a strategic plan with a total of 20 targets for the year 2020. At this year's meeting, parties will review the progress made and decide on course adjustments.
Marine biodiversity is one of the key issues discussed at the conference. Ecologically and biologically significant marine areas are currently being identified and will then be included in a global database. Some areas were already listed at the 2012 meeting, and it is planned that further areas will be added during this conference. The Federal Environment Ministry and the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) are supporting this process through the scientific network Global Ocean Biodiversity Initiative - GOBI.
Another central topic of the conference is setting out international financing targets for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. Germany plays a leading role in the international community here, providing half a billion euros per year on a long-term basis. Together with the Federal Development Ministry the BMUB will use the conference to present the results of Germany's biodiversity activities. The publication "Biological diversity - our joint responsibility" (in German) gives a comprehensive overview of projects for the conservation of biological diversity that are supported by Germany.