· 2 min read
illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Euronews or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Six European countries—Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, and the UK—pledged €130 million to the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) during COP16 in Colombia, aiming to protect ecosystems and wildlife
• This pledge contributes to a recent €200 million boost to the fund, which was a major outcome of the Kunming-Montreal Agreement in 2022
🔭 The context: The GBFF was established to accelerate biodiversity protection and restoration, directing funds to projects in 24 countries, including Brazil, Mexico, and Fiji
• A core goal is to protect 30% of the planet’s land and oceans by 2030, with Indigenous-led projects receiving 20% of the funding
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Securing biodiversity is critical for mitigating climate change impacts and ensuring healthy ecosystems that support global food and water resources
• Conservationists say much larger and sustained contributions are essential to prevent severe ecological losses
⏭️ What's next: Germany’s State Secretary urges other countries to join the funding drive, while NGOs stress the need for more robust, annual commitments from additional nations to safeguard biodiversity on a meaningful scale
💬 One quote: “This is about money and morale. A message of hope and global solidarity,” - Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity
📈 One stat: The GBFF aims for 20% of its resources to be allocated to Indigenous-led projects, based on evidence of their vital role in biodiversity preservation
Click for more news covering the latest on biodiversity and ethical governance