Gincana 3 Biological Diversity and Climate Change Gincana 3 Biological Diversity and Climate Change

Table of Contents

Ahmed Djoghlaf Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)...... 1

Ban Ki-Moon United Nations Secretary-General...... 2

Achim Steiner UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)...... 3

Gérald Tremblay Mayor of Montréal...... 5

Yvo de Boer Executive Secretary, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)...... 5

Dr. R. K. Pachauri Director-General, The Energy Resources Institute (TERI), Chairman, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)...... 7

Monique Barbut Chief Executive Officer, Global Environment Facility (GEF)...... 8

Jens Stoltenberg Prime Minister of Norway ...... 9

Rt. Hon. Sir Anerood Jugnauth President of the Republic of Mauritius...... 10

A. Raja Minister for Environment & Forests, India ...... 11

Stefan Wallin Minister, Ministry of the Environment, Finland...... 14

Sigmar Gabriel Minster, Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Germany...... 15

Barry Gardiner Printed in Canada Minister For Biodiversity, Landscape and Rural Affairs, United Kingdom...... 17 ISBN: 92-9225-067-1 Copyright: Secretariat of the Convention Nicolas Hulot on Biological Diversity 2007 Fondation Nicolas Hulot pour la Nature et l’Homme...... 20 All Rights reserved Julia Marton-Lefèvre Design and typesetting Director General, the World Conservation Union (IUCN)...... 21 Em Dash Design Thomas Lovejoy President of the Heinz Center for Science, Economics and the Environment...... 23 Cover photo credits Spheres bottom to top: Roeslien Raimond, Camille Parmesan Franz Dejon, Khosey1/ww.flickr.com, Associate Professor of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin...... 25 Bill Adler, istockphoto.com Background top: Schneider-UNEP Anilla Cherian bottom: Robbie Ribeiro Ph.D., Environmental Consultant...... 27 Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Climate Change is Real, The Time to Act is Now

he recently released report of the dized by the twin threats of climate change has clearly demonstrated we need to protect Intergovernmental Panel on Climate and the loss of biodiversity. biodiversity—even if only in terms of pure self- T Change prepared by 2500 experts Already, scientific observations around the interest for our own species. The variety of from 130 countries has made it clear that world have shown a range of responses in plants, animals and micro-organisms—and climate change is real. Indeed, the conse- nature to changing weather patterns, from this includes genetic diversity within species— quences of a warming planet are now visible. earlier bird-nesting seasons in Europe to the underpins a range of services provided to us by Bare green winter slopes in Alpine ski resorts “bleaching” of tropical reefs as warmer sea healthy ecosystems, among them the provision and vast chunks of ice breaking off from land temperatures upset the delicate symbiosis of fresh water, food and fiber, the pollination of masses in the Arctic and Antarctic are stark between coral organisms and algae. crops, opportunities for recreation, and even reminders of the consequences of continuing Of course, plants and animals have often climate control itself through the absorption to pour ever-greater quantities of greenhouse had to adapt to past changes in the climate— of carbon dioxide by vegetation. gases such as carbon dioxide into the atmo- indeed, it has been an important factor in the A failure to address the causes of biodi- sphere, and on the urgency of finding cleaner evolutionary change that has produced the versity loss therefore has huge implications for ways of providing energy, goods and services variety of species we see today. human development, especially as the rural to a growing population. It will be much more difficult, however, for poor are often those most directly dependent What has been largely missing from this ecosystems to adapt naturally to the pres- on these ecosystem services. growing awareness of the threat of Slowing climate change through climate change has been the rec- a reduction in emissions from the ognition that it is linked to another, burning of fossil fuels is a vital equally-important human-caused long-term step in safeguarding change to the planet’s loss of bio- the variety of life on Earth. Since logical diversity. The Millennium forests, peatlands, and other eco- Ecosystem Assessment prepared systems hold vast amounts of car- by 1395 experts from 95 coun- bon, avoiding deforestation and the tries have made it clear that climate loss of peatlands and other eco- change is the second root cause of systems can contribute to these the unfolding unprecedented loss efforts. of biodiversity on our planet However, even if all such emis- The link between biodiversity sions were stopped today, average and climate change operates in two temperatures could be expected directions. Firstly, climate change to increase well into the future, is indeed an important driver of because greenhouse gases lin- the loss of biological diversity, as ger in the atmosphere for many species and ecosystems struggle decades. Because of this iner- to keep pace with rapid changes tia, an increasing focus is being in temperature and rainfall. What is much less ent climatic trends brought about by human placed on measures to help societies adapt appreciated is the second aspect of the link: activity, for two main reasons. First, the rate to climate change, in parallel with efforts to the ability of human societies to adapt to cli- of change projected over the coming century minimize further warming. It is here that much mate change will be compromised if we fail is much greater than anything experienced in greater priority must be placed on the role of to reduce the other pressures on biodiver- recent geological time. Second, the options biodiversity. sity—such as deforestation, pollution and available for natural adaptation have been Despite its importance, climate change is unsustainable harvesting of fish stocks and greatly reduced by the large-scale conversion only one of a number of human-induced pres- other wildlife. of habitats: if a forest is surrounded by bare sures acting on ecosystems, often simultane- In recognition of this vital link, the Parties to pasture or urban sprawl, for example, many ously. It is within our power to reduce each the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) animals and plants are unable to shift their of these pressures. By using all the tools in will celebrate this year’s International Day for range to more suitable locations should their our possession to maintain or increase the Biological Diversity under the theme biodi- current territories become unsuitable due to resilience of ecosystems, we can add to their versity and climate change. This major event climate change. ability to withstand the impact of a changing in the life of the Convention for life on Earth Climate change therefore has the poten- climate. In other words, protecting biodiversity will also coincide with the celebration of the tial to accelerate the current rate of species should be seen as an essential component of International Polar Year. We hope to highlight a extinctions, already higher than at any time adaptation to climate change. positive opportunity: by tackling the two issues since the disappearance of the dinosaurs 65 Coral reefs provide a case in point. A wide together, and with a sense of real urgency, it million years ago, and estimated to be already range of different factors have led to the deg- is still possible to prevent the livelihoods of 100 to 1000 times the background rate. radation of these “rainforests of the ocean”, people around the world from being jeopar- As the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment such as overfishing that depletes the reefs of

Gincana 3  Ban Ki-moon, The United Nations Secretary-General

algae-grazing species and upsets the frag- ile balance of the ecosystem. Activities on land can also cause damage, including the Message on the poorly-managed use of fertilizers that run off farmland, adding excess nutrients such as International Day For nitrogen to coastal waters, and even defor- estation hundreds of kilometers inland that causes soil erosion and swamps the coral Biological Diversity reefs with sediment. A recent report by the IUCN suggests that through better land management and the use of marine protected areas, it may iodiversity is the foundation of life be possible to prevent and even reverse the on earth and one of the pillars of bleaching caused by rising sea temperatures. Bsustainable development. The rich- Such a strategy could significantly bolster the ness and variety of life on earth makes pos- livelihoods of millions in areas such as the sible the ecosystem services on which we Caribbean Sea and the Pacific and Indian depend: clean water, food, shelter, medicine Oceans, who depend on the reefs for the and clothing. Environments rich in biodiver- tourism income they bring in, the seafood sity are resilient when stricken by natural they provide and the physical protection they disaster. All of this is of particular impor- offer from storms and waves. tance for the poorest citizens of our world. Other examples abound across the globe. Those who live on only a few dollars a day Better protection of native vegetation in dry- need biodiversity to meet their basic needs. lands such as the African Sahel and the semi- Without the conservation and sustainable arid Caatinga of Brazil can check the advance use of biodiversity, we will not achieve the of desertification and help farmers cope with Millennium Development Goals. the impacts of drought. Avoiding deforesta- However, biodiversity is being lost at an tion in Central America can reduce the likeli- unprecedented rate. This, in turn, is seri- hood of devastating landslides provoked by ously eroding the capacity of our planet to the more intense rainfall projected to be a sustain life of earth. It is for this reason that consequence of climate change. Conserving world leaders attending the World Summit on wetland habitats, from the cypress marshes of Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in the Mississippi Delta to the mangrove forests 2002 agreed to achieve, by 2010, a significant of Sri Lanka, can shield coastal communities reduction in the rate of loss of biodiversity. from increasingly violent storms. This commitment was reiterated at the 2005 As governments around the world develop World Summit. The 2010 Biodiversity Target is their climate adaptation strategies, failure to now fully integrated into the framework of the appreciate the importance of biodiversity can Millennium Development Goals and, as a sign potentially lead to counterproductive measures. of further support, the international commu- For example, large-scale engineering proj- nity decided to declare 2010 the International of any strategy to adapt to climate change. ects to move fresh water to drier areas might Year for Biological Diversity. Mangrove forests and other coastal wetlands weaken the resilience of river ecosystems from As the world also focuses more attention represent a bulwark against extreme weather which the water is abstracted, making com- on climate change, the links between climate events and rising sea-levels. As agricultural munities more vulnerable to climate impacts. change and biodiversity are also being articu- landscapes become warmer and drier, the Introduction of drought-tolerant crops might lated. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment— diversity of livestock and cereal crops can inadvertently introduce invasive alien species a state-of-the-art appraisal of the world’s eco- provide farmers with options to cope with to forests or savannas, jeopardizing the essen- systems and the services they provide—has new conditions. Forests, peatlands and other tial services provided by those ecosystems. identified climate change as the one of the big- ecosystems contribute to sequestering car- Careful assessment of adaptation policies at gest causes of our planet’s loss of biodiversity, bon dioxide from the atmosphere, thereby the time of their design can help avoid such along with changing land use. In addition, the helping to mitigate increases in greenhouse negative consequences. recently released report of Intergovernmental gas emissions. The international community has commit- Panel on Climate Change made it crystal clear Through the Convention on Biological ted itself to a target of slowing significantly that climate change is real and will continue Diversity and the United Nations Framework the pace of biodiversity loss by 2010. Global to affect our lives and ecosystems for many Convention on Climate Change, the interna- Biodiversity Outlook 2 cautioned last year that years to come. Those impacts will include the tional community is committed to conserving without urgent further measures, this target extinction of ever increasing numbers of spe- biodiversity and combating climate change. would be missed. The time has come to realize cies, further weakening a number of already The global response to these challenges needs that investing in the resilience of ecosystems fragile ecosystems. to move much more rapidly, and with more will ensure that future generations are not only It is therefore timely that the theme of this determination at all levels—global, national bequeathed the dazzling variety of nature we year’s observance of the International Day for and local. take for granted, but are also much better able Biological Diversity is “Biodiversity and Climate For the sake of current and future gen- to cope with the less stable climate they will Change”. Indeed, the conservation and sustain- erations, we must achieve the goals of these unfortunately inherit. able use of biodiversity is an essential element landmark instruments.

 Gincana 3 Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

“Rapid environmental change is Curbing all around us. The most obvious Climate Change: example is climate change, which Risks and Opportunities will be one of my top priorities for World’s Wildlife as Secretary-General. But that is

not the only threat. Many other long the world’s mountain ranges 40 per cent of species’ habitats in Africa could the mighty glaciers are melting at an be lost by 2085. clouds are on the horizon, includ- A accelerating rate as climate change Habitats and ecosystems in Africa are cur- raises the temperature across the roof of the rently under threat from a variety of impacts ing water shortages, degraded world. and climate change is likely to be an addi- Scientists at the World Glacier Monitoring tional stress. land and the loss of biodiversity. Service in Zurich, Switzerland, say the rate of One study, examining over 5,000 plant loss of glaciers is now three times faster than species in Africa, has concluded that around it was in the 1980s. 80 to well over 90 per cent of species’ suit- This assault on the global envi- Eventually this is going to spell misery for able habitats will decrease in size or shift due millions if not billions of people who rely on to climate change. ronment risks undermining the these water towers for drinking water, agri- Shifts in rainfall patterns could affect the culture and industry if dramatic reductions in fynbos and karoo in southern Africa by altering many advances human society greenhouse gases are not achieved. the fire regime critical for their regeneration. Ecosystems, from wetland and river sys- Wetland ecosystems such as the Okavanga has made in recent decades. It tems to forests and meadows, will also suffer Delta and the Sudd area could be impacted by imperiling biodiversity both high and hum- decreased run off. There will also be impacts is undercutting our fight against ble. on coastal zones with reduced fish produc- Climate change threatens habitats and tivity, coral bleaching, salt water intrusion and poverty. It could even come to species in other ways which scientists are loss of beach facilities. just beginning to understand. Take Africa for For a country like Kenya, where UNEP is jeopardize international peace example. A new report, commissioned by headquartered, this could prove economically the United Nations Framework Convention on disastrous. The country earns some $700 mil- and security.” Climate Change (UNFCCC) and released just lion a year in foreign exchange from tourism prior to their last meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, based largely on its ecosystems, wildlife and estimates that between 25 per cent and over landscapes both terrestrial and marine. And it is not just Africa. Another report, this time commissioned by the Convention on Migratory Species, pin-points individual species at risk in other parts of the world and some whose habits, habitats and health are already being affected. Green turtles for example are suffering higher levels of tumours with the rise linked to warmer waters that may be favouring infec- tions. Others, like the North Atlantic Right Whale, may be impacted by a decline in their main food source plankton as a result of shifts in big ocean currents, says the study launched at the climate convention talks in Nairobi. The report, compiled with support from the UK Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, cites lower water tables and more frequent droughts that will reduce habitat for the Baikal Teal and foraging grounds for spe- cies like the Aquatic Warbler. Exotic southern fish species like the Red Mullet, Anchovy, Sardine and Poor Cod are now being found in the North Sea. Meanwhile, changing wind patterns are making it more difficult for passerine birds to

Gincana 3  compact fluorescent light bulb which would Currently there are few incentives to con- take the emissions equivalent of 1.3 million serve such forests and their extraordinary cars off the road. array of wildlife alongside their important role Wal-Mart is also considering fitting solar as suppliers of food, medicines and materi- power to many of its vast network of stores on als for local communities during good and make their migration in the Caribbean where a scale that would make it among the biggest hard times. spring storms are becoming more numerous generators of solar energy in America. At the moment tropical forests are out- and of greater intensity. Meanwhile, the Clean Development side the CDM despite the fact that they may Climate change may also favour the spread Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol is sequester as much as $100 billion worth of of alien invasive species. The Pacific Oyster set to generate $100 billion worth of funds carbon annually. (Crassostrea gigas) brought to Europe for flowing from the North to the South for cleaner Like so many areas of biodiversity and cli- commercial reasons was not able to survive and greener energy schemes. mate change, we have a chicken and egg outside artificial pens, says the CMS report. The benefits for biodiversity from better situation here. If standing forests are to be As the North Sea has grown warmer, the access to the CDM are several including the counted, the emission reductions post 2012 Pacific Oyster has been able to breed in the installation of energy services in rural and urban need to be significant and sizeable. wild and is now displacing native oysters in areas of developing countries that may reduce So in the end it turns on politics and will of the Wadden Sea. pressure on forests for charcoal and wood nations to match the science with real action. As migratory species are affected by cli- for cooking. This is no longer only the responsibility of envi- mate change, then so are their prey species. The CDM also includes provisions for tree ronment ministers but also of ministers of eco- For example, reproductive success of the non- planting—an issue also at the heart of UNEP’s nomic cooperation, finance, health, transport, migratory Great Tit (Parus major) and migra- new Billion Tree Planting Campaign. As I write planning, security and defense tory Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca) is the campaign is over a quarter of the way to its Indeed, given the size of the threat and the being affected by the changing availability of own voluntary target as a result of pledges from impact across all sectors of economies, surely caterpillar food supplies. governments, business and civil society. it is a responsibility at the very top of the politi- It is doubtful whether polar bears (Ursus One flaw in the CDM currently is the uneven cal tree, namely heads of state. maritimus) will be able to adapt fast enough to distribution of projects, with the lion’s share Over recent months the idea of a Heads changing ice conditions affecting the habitat of going to rapidly developing countries like China of State summit on climate change—some- their seal prey species, and the disappearance and smaller economies missing out. where between the G8 Summit and the next of the ice threatens the bears’ survival. In order to overcome some of the economic climate change conference in Indonesia, in These are just some of the facts and some and structural barriers, UNEP and the UN December—has been gaining ground. of the concerns linking climate change and the Development Programme recently launched It is a proposal that may generate even Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), con- a new initiative with support from Spain and faster momentum when the IPCC Working necting the build up of greenhouse gases and Sweden. Other countries are set to come on Group II report is launched in April. Here the their impact on the 2010 target and beyond. board. impacts on people and on biodiversity will But what of the solutions and challenges The initiative also includes a provision for come to the fore. facing the CBD and the wider world? adaptation and climate-proofing of infrastruc- I mentioned the world’s glaciers at the out- Firstly, it is clear that the best form of adap- ture to fisheries, agriculture and health care set and, along with the polar regions their highly tation is mitigation—in other words cutting the services—even if the world can manage to turn visible vulnerability to climate change. In doing gases triggering climate change. of the carbon tap, there will be some measure so I must mention World Environment Day There is, for the first time in several years, of climate change as a result off carbon gases (WED) 2007 which is to be hosted this year some genuine cause for optimism. The lat- already in the atmospheric system. by Norway with the central events focused on est report by the Intergovernmental Panel on There are various ways in which biodiver- the Arctic gateway of Tromsø. Climate Change has put a full stop behind the sity could be potentially and directly assisted This year’s theme is Melting Ice—A Hot scientific debate by finding ‘unequivocally’ that to adapt. These include the development of Topic? The logo underlines the global theme by humans are altering the climate. wildlife corridors, re-mapping protected areas asking a polar bear, an African farmer, a Pacific In Europe, the Commission has proposed to reflect the new reality of climate change islander, an insurer and businessman, two a 20 per cent cut in greenhouse gas emissions and extending protected areas both on land indigenous children and ultimately ‘Yourself’ after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012 and and at sea. the rhetorical question of whether indeed this even a 30 per cent cut if others join in. In the marine environment this could espe- is the topic of our time. The Federal Government in the United cially benefit vulnerable and temperature sensi- As I note in my final paragraph: “Perhaps we States remains unconvinced that legally binding tive ecosystems like coral reefs--reefs are dou- should have added a further person—namely emission reductions are the best way forward. bly vulnerable to climate change if located in a politician: Just how much hotter does this However President Bush in his last State of contaminated waters, new research shows. topic need to become before governments the Union address conceeded that climate In a sense these, are not just defensive across the globe finally act?” change is a serious challenge. actions but also conservation opportunities It is a point I will raise in all my meet- In addition, a significant number of indi- driven by new thinking, new science and new ings throughout this year up to the Climate vidual states and over 300 metropolitan areas sources of funding in the face of the over arch- Convention conference in Bali, 3-14 December have or are considering emissions caps and ing impact of climate change. 2007. or reductions in the sprit of Kyoto. For example an alliance of tropically-for- It is the theme that all of the multilateral Important business and industrial sectors ested countries, led by nations like Papua environmental agreements including the CBD, are also embracing emission reductions and New Guinea and Costa Rica, are pressing to I believe should echo and amplify in their daily energy efficiency. These include retailers like have standing forests included in the Kyoto dealings in this most crucial of years for climate Wal-Mart who plan to sell each customer one provisions. change and thus for biodiversity too.

 Gincana 3 Gérald Tremblay, Mayor of Montréal Cities Must be Part of the Solution

he Ville de Montréal is proud to wel- issues must be addressed at all levels. Montreal region has adopted a sustainable come the Convention on Biological Some of my colleagues—the mayors of development plan, which places a priority on T Diversity (CBD) to our city. In December towns located in northern Quebec—are already the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emis- 2005, Montreal had the honour of host- facing a number of problems related to cli- sions. Following an 80% reduction in corpo- ing the Conference of the Parties to the UN mate change. These include the melting of sea rate GHG emissions between 1990 and 2002. Framework Convention on Climate Change ice and permafrost, and they have significant Montreal has now undertaken to reduce its (UNFCCC). This memorable event gathered effects on both infrastructure and residents. GHG emissions by an additional 20% between the global community around issues related Recently, unusually warm temperatures 2002 and 2012. And we have developed an to the consequences of climate change. have given us a taste of what a changing cli- action plan to get us there. I had the opportunity to preside over the mate could mean for southern Quebec. The In addition, the Ville de Montréal—through opening meeting of the World Mayors Council spread of diseases such as that linked to the its nature museums—is equally pleased to on Climate Change, held as part of the Fourth West Nile virus, the arrival of exotic invasive offer support to a network of prestigious sci- Municipal Leaders Summit on Climate Change. species—one of the key causes of biodiver- entific partners, in order to ensure that we This event ran parallel to the UNFCCC meet- sity loss—and the lengthening of the allergy meet the 2010 Biodiversity Target set in the ing. season: these are some of the repercussions Convention of Biological Diversity. To get there, As a result of these circumstances, we we may have to face. we will have to face the major challenge that have developed a particular interest in climate As I said at the first meeting of the World climate change represents. Cities have a role change and biodiversity—which, as we now Mayors Council on Climate Change, “Cities to play in finding solutions to the problems of know, are closely inter-related. Both of these must be part of the solution.” This is why the both biodiversity and climate change.

Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Climate Change and Biodiversity: Efforts That Become Mutually Supportive

cientific research has shown how ecosystems to adapt naturally to a chang- conservation of biodiversity. Furthermore, emissions of greenhouse gases in ing climate. regulation for afforestation and reforestation S the atmosphere are leading to sub- The understanding of the relationship under the Clean Development Mechanism stantial changes in the Earth’s climate. Effects between actions to address climate change (CDM) requires that any potential nega- such as increasing temperatures, sea-level and biodiversity loss has increased as the tive impacts on biodiversity and natural rise, drought and changes in rainfall patterns UNFCCC and the Convention on Biological ecosystems be taken into account during and in the frequency and intensity of extreme Diversity (CBD) have advanced work to meet the project-design phase. In practice, the climatic events pose additional pressure to their respective objectives. At the outset, CDM has provided incentives to recover the world’s ecosystems and challenge social the Earth’s ecosystems play a major role degraded lands. development. Climate change is quoted by in the global carbon budget and, hence, Activities to cope with the impacts of cli- the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment as the way they are managed influences the mate change have also revealed opportunities one of the main drivers of ecosystem change. concentration of greenhouse gases in the for synergy. The capacity of society to adapt The United Nations Framework Convention atmosphere. While Parties to the UNFCCC to a changing climate is strongly determined on Climate Change (UNFCCC) acknowledges have committed themselves to protect reser- by the state and health of its natural base, this situation by stating in its objective that voirs and enhance carbon sinks as a means particularly in the case of those communi- stabilizing greenhouse gases in the atmo- to mitigate climate change, they have also ties whose livelihoods depend on ecosystem sphere to prevent dangerous interference taken into account biodiversity concerns: goods and services. Science has also shown with the climate system should be achieved for example, forestry-related activities under that diverse and healthy ecosystems are more in a timeframe that, among others, allows the Kyoto Protocol must contribute to the likely to adapt to a changing climate. Hence,

Gincana 3  protecting and restoring key ecosystems could trations in the atmosphere, help communities guarding the habitat of marine and coastal contribute to adaptation strategies and help to adapt to climate change and, at the same species; society cope with drought and floods, the risk time, reduce biodiversity loss. Parties to the • Management and conservation of bamboo of foregone goods and services and other UNFCCC are currently working toward estab- forests, although of lower potential to sta- climate-related impacts. In this context, work lishing a framework for such a purpose. bilising greenhouse gas concentrations in under the National Adaptation Programmes of Actions to address climate change and the atmosphere, provides an alternative for Action (NAPAs) in the UNFCCC context has biodiversity can be mutually reinforcing at the adaptation and biodiversity conservation; assisted least developed countries to iden- level of national and local implementation. For • Agroforestry projects also provide options tify how ecosystem resilience and biological example, policies on integrated land man- for adaptation while lessening the pressure diversity contribute to enhancing their adap- agement can reduce greenhouse gas emis- on the agricultural frontier, thus helping tive capacity. The Nairobi work programme sions (through forest conservation), provide protect important habitats and reservoirs on impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to options for adaptation (for example, protec- of carbon. climate change, recently adopted under the tion of watersheds and soil) and contribute The above highlights some developments UNFCCC, is likely to further identify issues of to biodiversity conservation (by protecting from the first ten years of the UNFCCC. The common concern. the habitat of several species). The potential negotiation process is looking forward to Finally, reducing emissions from defores- for synergy is illustrated by the following con- defining and setting an arrangement for long- tation in developing countries is an emerging crete activities1: term cooperative action to address climate topic under the UNFCCC which can potentially • Several governments are currently explor- change. The post 2012 era will see a mature provide opportunities for strengthening action ing how soil, rangeland and forest manage- process strengthened by lessons from the to address climate change and contribute to ment can enhance the resilience of eco- past and where linkages to issues outside the biodiversity conservation. Not only is the loss systems and help local populations adapt Convention are likely to be further explored of forests one of the main causes of biodiver- to climate change; and strengthened. Biodiversity will be, with sity loss, it also contributes to approximately • Reforestation and restoration of mangrove no doubt, one of them. one fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions. forests is currently being used as an adap- For this reason, protecting and managing the tation strategy against storms and coastal 1. These examples have been extracted from the UNFCCC world’s forests in a sustainable way can con- erosion while, at the same time, seques- website, in particular, registered CDM methodologies and tribute to stabilizing greenhouse gas concen- tering carbon and contributing to safe- the local coping strategy database.

 Gincana 3 Dr. R. K. Pachauri, Director-General, The Energy Resources Institute (TERI), Chairman, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Climate Change and Impacts on Biodiversity

he first part of the Fourth Assessment “On account of the inertia in the system oceans will continue to warm Report of the IPCC dealing with the T physical science basis of climate over a much longer period than land areas even with stabilization of the change was released in early February 2007. It is important to understand the major findings concentration of greenhouse gases, which indicates that sea level rise of this report in assessing the likely impacts on biodiversity, which would be dealt with in would likely continue for centuries beyond the stage when stabilization detail as part of the report of Working Group II of the IPCC, to be released in early April of concentration of these gases may be achieved.” 2007. The subject of changes in the world’s climate and their implications for biodiver- sity have been dealt with in previous reports taken, growth rates have declined since the account of the inertia in the system oceans will of the IPCC, including a technical paper on early 1990s, but concentration levels still remain continue to warm over a much longer period “Climate Change and Biodiversity” published in very high as compared to the long-term trend than land areas even with stabilization of the April 2002. However, not only has our under- estimated for the past. In the case of carbon concentration of greenhouse gases, which standing of the nature and extent of climate dioxide also, the observed value of 379 ppm indicates that sea level rise would likely con- change advanced significantly since the begin- in 2005 exceeds by far the natural range over tinue for centuries beyond the stage when ning of this decade, but there is also stronger the past 650,000 years, which has led to a stabilization of concentration of these gases evidence available on acceleration in some of warming of average global surface temperature may be achieved. Sea level rise and warming the impacts. In other words, ecosystems and of 7.4oC between 1906 and 2005. of the oceans have important implications for natural resources in several parts of the world Biodiversity would also be affected by biodiversity as well as ecosystems existing are now much more vulnerable to the impacts extreme aspects of climate change, includ- in coastal areas and islands. The mangroves of climate change than was estimated earlier. ing heavy precipitation events as well as inten- growing in several coastal and island locations This is partly articulated in the statement “The sity and frequency increases observed with for instance would be seriously affected as a understanding of anthropogenic warming and droughts as well as floods in different parts result of sea level rise. cooling influences on climate has improved of the world. At the same time, observed evi- All in all, observations from the past as well since the Third Assessment Report (TAR), lead- dence indicates that there has been increased as projections from the future indicate that ing to very high confidence that the globally precipitation in eastern parts of North and given the seriousness of the subject, it is par- averaged net effect of human activities since South America, northern Europe and north- ticularly important for those dealing with the 1750 has been one of warming, with a radia- ern and central Asia, while drying has been physical aspects of climate change to work tive forcing of +1.6 [+0.6 to +2.4] W m-2”. observed in the Sahel, the Mediterranean, closely with those research communities that It would also be useful to understand that southern Africa and parts of southern Asia. are concerned with the preservation of species the Arctic region is warming at twice the rate All of this has important implications for bio- and the existence of biodiversity on Earth. Even of the global average. Based on observations diversity in the areas affected. While important more important would be the involvement of that apply to the past 100 years, it was also findings have been drawn from an analysis of social scientists in such collaborative efforts, concluded that Arctic temperatures have high observed effects in the past, it is also neces- so that human society can come to grips with decadal variability, and a warm period was also sary to look at future projections that would not only mitigation measures that would require observed from 1925 to 1945. These changes help in our understanding of the threat to bio- significant changes in those activities which have important implications for all forms of life diversity in the future. Firstly, for the next two result in emissions of greenhouse gases, but in that part of the globe. decades a warming of about 0.2oC per decade also arrive at means by which the world can It would also be important to assess the is projected for a range of SRES emission sce- adapt to climate change which would be inevi- impacts of biodiversity on the basis not only narios (the standard set of scenarios used by table even if we were to bring about major and of the magnitude of changes that have taken the IPCC for its previous and current assess- rapid cuts in emissions in the immediate future. place, but also the rate at which these have ments). On the basis of projections arrived at in Human society cannot neglect the effects of occurred within a historical context. The the Fourth Assessment Report it can be stated climate change on all living species, because increase in concentration of greenhouse gases that the best estimate for the low scenario is quite apart from maintaining the delicate bal- in the atmosphere, which is the main driver 1.8oC (from a likely range of 1.1oC to 2.9oC), ance of nature that the existence of different of anthropogenic climate change, therefore, and the best estimate for the high scenario species are an important and vital constituent has to be seen within a framework of long- is 4oC (from a likely range of 2.4oC to 6.4oC). of, the history of human progress in fields as term historical changes as well. For instance, This range is broadly consistent with the span diverse as agriculture and medicine has been the atmospheric concentration of methane in of projected changes estimated in the TAR. determined largely by the wealth of biodiversity 2005 exceeds by far the natural range of the Of course, the changes projected as average which human society has benefited from. This last 650,000 years as determined from ice values do not translate into uniform changes wealth cannot be destroyed or depleted if we cores. With the coming into existence of the across the globe not only across land areas but are to act in the interests of both the current Montreal Protocol and other measures under- also between land surfaces and oceans. On as well as future generations.

Gincana 3  Monique Barbut, Chair and CEO, Global Environment Facility (GEF) Building a Global Constituency for the Environment

he polar bear, lumbering through for- The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment noted It is becoming starkly clear that the increas- bidding Arctic seasons, is the embodi- that by the end of the 21st century, climate ing convergence of global environmental prob- T ment of strength, power and survival. change and its impacts may be the most domi- lems can only be solved with an intelligently So, recent painful images of depleted and nant driver of biodiversity loss and changes in integrated set of solutions. Furthermore, as we struggling polar bears are wrenching calls ecosystem goods and services that biodiver- honor the 2007 International Day for Biological to action—both to balance climate change sity provides to society. Diversity—and International Polar Year and trends and to protect the survival of living spe- From a biodiversity management perspec- World Environment Day on climate change— cies. The polar bear’s plight, sadly, helps bring tive, we must ensure that protected areas adapt we can build on the growing public awakening home the urgent need for integrated think- to climate change through proper design of about the interlinked nature of these alarmingly ing and action at the convergence of climate protected area systems. According to a CBD imminent problems. We are in a unique posi- change and biodiversity conservation. study, in the Arctic the most effective adapta- tion to help create a global constituency for By the middle of this century we are no lon- tion strategies available are monitoring and integrated solutions. ger likely to have year-round Arctic sea ice and predicting future conditions, using traditional I would like to challenge environmentalists, the polar bear may disappear from the wild. knowledge to formulate hypotheses, and iden- business leaders, and governments to develop Many scientists believe that the rapid rate of tifying knowledge gaps. Conversely, from the a campaign to build this global constituency, climate change in the Arctic could ultimately climate change perspective, conservation and employing proven marketing practices and produce changes in ocean and atmospheric maintenance of ecosystem structures serve as low-cost social change strategies, and send- circulation patterns. The impact on the polar important climate change strategies, since spe- ing compelling, targeted messages across bear, however, is more immediate—already, cies-rich ecosystems have a greater potential the planet. It would result in a groundswell of there is a perceptible thinning of the weight to adapt to climate change. In the Arctic, it is awareness, a commitment to change, and a of polar bears and in the birth and survival not just polar bears affected by the changing practical, personal response that would influ- of cubs. climate; the Innuits and other indigenous human ence communities, societies, and nations. This powerful species’ endangerment is communities who live in and depend on the A global constituency for the environment just one of many predicted and observed Arctic ecosystems will be affected and will need entails each of us. I invite you to join with us impacts of climate change on biodiversity. to develop the capacity to adapt. in this effort.

 Gincana 3 Jens Stoltenberg, Prime Minister of Norway Finding Solutions to Environmental Challenges: A Responsibility for All

he further north you go, the more for the world’s food supply. It will offer all coun- are fully integrated into policies in all sectors, extreme the consequences of climate tries a place to store further samples of seeds at both national and international level. T change become. Today, Norway expe- that are already stored in seed banks elsewhere The signs of climate change in the Arctic riences mayflowers in December and green in the world. The designers are taking advan- are alarming, and Norway has a front row seat. Christmases, and its bears no longer follow tage of Svalbard’s permafrost by building the Temperatures are rising, and polar ice and normal hibernation patterns—events unthink- seed vault into the side of a mountain, thereby glaciers are melting. We have to make use able just a few years ago. Climate change is ensuring that the seeds will retain their ability of all appropriate means in combating these starting to affect the way we live. to germinate for a very long time, even if the developments, and all sectors of society have There is a further major environmental con- cooling system should fail. to become involved if we are to succeed. My cern for humankind today. Loss of biodiversity, The world’s poorest countries contribute Government is preparing national action plans along with climate change, undermines sus- less to global warming than rich countries. Yet on emissions targets for all sectors of soci- tainable development and poverty alleviation they are the most vulnerable and the ones that ety that emit greenhouse gases, in the hope efforts. Moreover, degradation and loss of have to bear the most serious consequences of that this will lead to a substantial reduction in biodiversity have been identified as barriers climate change. In the Rio convention all states Norway’s emissions. to achieving the UN Millennium Development agreed that countries have a common but dif- New technology is not the answer to all Goals. ferentiated responsibility for reducing emissions challenges in the field of climate change and Climate change and biodiversity are strongly of greenhouse gases. Still, seventy per cent biodiversity. But I believe technology change interlinked. Climate change affects biodiver- of the world’s emissions are not regulated by and innovation will be an extremely important sity and biodiversity can affect the world’s cli- contribution to emission reductions on a global mate, most importantly when forests are lost. scale. As a petroleum producing nation, Norway Active management and preservation measures has decided to be a leading developer of tech- aimed at protecting biodiversity cover a wide nology to clean, capture and store CO² from range of measures which also have the effect petroleum production and power plants. We of mitigating climate change. I therefore wel- have established a close cooperation between come the selection of “biodiversity and climate government and industry. Together with the change” as the theme for the International Day Norwegian oil and gas company “Statoil” we for Biological Diversity this year. have agreed to establish the world’s first and If we are to succeed in fighting global warm- largest full-scale CO² capture and storage ing, we do indeed need to understand the project at the Mongstad combined heat and links between biodiversity and climate change. power plant in Western Norway. This project The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment has will hopefully contribute to reduce the cost of provided valuable insights in our dependence CO²-reduction technology and thus make it of ecosystems. Biodiversity is a safety net for attractive for other countries. humankind. the Kyoto protocol. This calls for a new Kyoto In June this year, Norway will host the inter- Biodiversity is vital, as we need to be able protocol, one which is much more comprehen- national World Environment Day celebrations, to replace threatened plants or crops and sive and more efficient. It will be necessary to under the Melting Ice—a Hot Topic? slogan. develop stronger crop strains. Genetic diver- address the global ceilings of emissions, where As 2007 is the International Polar Year, events sity is an insurance policy against the effects reductions should take place and how the will focus on the effects of climate change on of climate change, destructive plant diseases, financial responsibility should be shouldered. polar ecosystems and communities, and the and pests. Rich countries must take on a much greater knock-on effects for the rest of the world. Biodiversity can also be an important means share of the costs of reductions. The impacts of melting polar ice will have of preventing famine. The breeding of bet- I had the pleasure of serving as one of consequences far beyond the Arctic. Its effects ter food crops depends on the availability of the co-chairs of the UN High-level Panel on may include altered ocean currents, rises in genetic material, and a global back-up system System-wide Coherence, which submitted its sea levels and a reduction in biodiversity. These to protect against irreversible loss of biological report, Delivering as One, last year. A key mes- in turn will affect many aspects of the world’s diversity is therefore vital. Many existing seed sage from the report was that greater coher- social and economic systems, as shown in banks are vulnerable to natural disasters, the ence and coordination are needed. The same the recent Stern Report and the report of the effects of war and shut-downs. applies to environmental organisations, and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change As a response to this need the Norwegian instruments such as the three Rio Conventions. (IPCC) have highlighted the costs of inaction Government is building a global seed vault All three of them address the need for sustain- on climate change. Climate change and bio- on Svalbard. Due to be opened in 2008, this able development, and we have to make sure diversity thus demand the urgent attention depository will house up to three million seed that they are applied in a coordinated way. We of—and action by—decision-makers and the types, and will provide an additional safety net must ensure that climate and biodiversity goals public worldwide.

Gincana 3  Rt. Hon. Sir Anerood Jugnauth G.C.S.K., K.C.M.G., Q.C., President of the Republic of Mauritius Achieving Sustainable Development is a Common Challenge

ver the last decades, Mauritius has eral environmental agreements. It is still con- challenge. The Mauritian journey started developed rapidly on all fronts. The tributing in generating and sustaining sites of even before the 1992’s UN Conference on O growth from a low income to a mid- global interest and of environmental benefits Environment and Development (UNCED) and dle income country has been sustained by through a number of measures implemented continued through the International Meeting the four main economic pillars, namely agri- and financed by the Government. on SIDS held in Mauritius in January 2005. culture, manufacturing, tourism, and finan- It is interesting to note that the biodiversity It proves that achieving sustainable devel- cial services. Other emerging sectors are the in Mauritius has developed a high degree of opment is not an individual concern but Information and Communication Technology endemism due to its age and isolation. The high requires the intricate support and participa- (ICT), the seafood hub, the knowledge hub level of endemism and species diversity per tion of one and all. In 2005, the Mauritian and the medical hub. These achievements unit area has resulted in the Mascarenes being declaration reaffirmed the continued validity have no doubt created a lot of pressure on identified as a Centre of Plant Diversity by the of the Barbados Programme of Action for the country’s resources. IUCN (World Conservation Union). However, this the Sustainable Development of Small Island Today Mauritius, like other Small Island unique biodiversity has been under stress and Developing States, as the blueprint providing Developing States (SIDS), is confronted with suffered devastation by human activities and the fundamental framework for the sustain- a number of internal and external challenges invasive alien plant species introduced since able development of Small Islands Developing coupled with inherent vulnerabilities. Major the first settlement, about 400 years ago. States also taking into account new emerging changes in global markets for sugar, textiles Substantial progress has been made in issues. Mauritius is really privileged to have and the projected impacts of climate change, terms of conservation and management of hosted that important conference and I wish particularly on coastal and marine resources genetic resources, in particular, the rescuing to place on record my deepest thanks to all present major risks to the continued pros- of a number of endemic birds from the brink those who have directly and indirectly contrib- perity of other economic sectors. Today, the of extinction. Other successfully implemented uted towards the success of that international economic scene is very difficult especially with projects comprise the establishment of terres- meeting I would add that last, but not the least, globalization, the dismantling of protective bar- trial and islets national parks (13,926.0 ha), 11 global warming has become an international riers for our sugar and textile exports, and the Conservation Management Areas (45 ha), and issue. Climate change is the talk of the town energy crisis. marine protected areas (7,216.0 ha), These and its cause most likely man-made Therefore In light of this changing economic context, projects are partnerships and Joint initiatives as Heads of State and Government, today which is affecting adversely global trade and by key actors in certain sub sectors, Mauritius, we all have a duty to take this phenomenon the Mauritian economy, my Government, has being endowed with a wide biodiversity heri- seriously as it is a bleak observation of what devised a number of important measures to tage has still a long way to go towards achiev- is happening now and even more of a predic- adjust to the external economic and environ- ing a proper understanding and appreciation tion for the future. mental shocks. Policies targeted to reforms of environmental benefits as they relate to World leaders need to take this message in a number of critical sectors such as edu- conservation, protection and management right. I wish that this makes the difference cation, skills development, agriculture, tour- of biodiversity resources. and creates awareness among policy mak- ism and public sector management are being We would all acknowledge that achiev- ers, to pay more attention to the warnings of implemented. These will ensure that economic ing sustainable development is a common climate change. decisions are taken in accordance with sustain- able development principles and established environmental objectives. Mauritius is fully aware that economic, social and environmental sustainability are the three crucial components for sustainable development and human welfare. In the lost decade, we have brought a number of impor- tant changes in the legislative, regulatory and institutional frameworks with particular focus on environmental protection and management. Continuous improvements have been made to ensure sound environmental governance. Conscious of the numerous challenges, Mauritius is among the first countries to have ratified the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in 1992. Mauritius has also signed and ratified a number of other multilat-

10 Gincana 3 A. Raja, Minister for Environment & Forests, India Climate Change: The Unseen Threat to Biodiversity

vidence that climate change is for real and is affecting life on Earth, includ- “The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention E ing biodiversity, continues to mount. on Biological Diversity are the major international agreements to tackle Biodiversity of any region is determined by a number of factors including biotic interac- tions; and the intensity and kind of reproduc- two of the most important global environmental concerns of our time tion and genetic recombination mechanisms. It is also a known fact that each species can and if I may say so perhaps, of all time.” survive only under a particular set of climatic conditions. This ‘climate envelope’, depen- dent on the current geographical distribution mentarities between these two Conventions. and with finite resilience in relation to climatic On the one hand biodiversity management gradients, serves to predict future distribu- can contribute to climate change mitigation tion. Biological diversity at all levels, as the and adaptation and to combating deserti- dynamics of natural evolutionary and ecologi- fication, while on the other hand, appropri- cal processes, induces a natural background ate climate change mitigation and adaptation rate of change. However, current rates and interventions may have positive bearings on magnitude of species extinction, related to global biological resources. The negotiators of habitat fragmentation, reduction and degra- these Conventions were aware of the synergies dation, far exceed normal background rates. between the two issues as the UNFCCC also Human activities result in loss of biodiversity calls for the conservation and enhancement depending on the intensity of both direct and of terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems indirect drivers. The rate and magnitude of as sinks for greenhouse gases. climate change induced by increased green- There has been considerable progress in house gas emissions has and will continue to the implementation of both these Conventions affect biodiversity, either directly or in combi- since 1992. However, in my view, much more nation with other drivers, and might outweigh and the Convention on Biological Diversity needs to be done. During the World Summit on them in the future. (CBD) are the major international agreements Sustainable Development (WSSD) held in 2002, The present global biota was affected to tackle two of the most important global the assembled Heads of States Governments by fluctuating Pleistocene concentrations of environmental concerns of our time, and if I committed themselves to “achieve by 2010 a atmospheric carbon dioxide, temperature, and may say so perhaps of all time. The interna- significant reduction of the current rate of biodi- precipitation, and coped through evolution- tional response in addressing these concerns versity loss at the global, regional and national ary changes, species plasticity, range move- has been in the form of widely acclaimed and level as a contribution to poverty alleviation and ments, and/or the ability to survive in small agreed Conventions, associated Protocols and to the benefit of all life on Earth.” Change in patches of favorable habitat. These changes, other initiatives. the Earth’s climate and its adverse effects were which resulted in major shifts in species’ ranges The CBD has three major objectives namely another area of deep concern and the WSSD and marked reorganization of biological com- the conservation of biological diversity, the reiterated that all countries face increased risks munities, landscapes, and biomes, occurred sustainable use of its components and the fair of negative impacts of climate change and in a landscape that was not as fragmented and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out recognized that the problems of poverty, land as today, and with little or no pressures from of the utilization of genetic resources. Climate degradation, access to water and food and human activities. Anthropogenic habitat frag- change is a major cause of biodiversity loss human health remain at the centre of global mentation has now confined many species and one of the obligations under the CBD is to attention. The WSSD further recognized that to relatively small areas within their previ- identify and address such threats. At the same the UNFCCC is the key instrument for address- ous ranges, with reduced genetic variability. time, the ultimate objective of the UNFCCC ing climate change, and they reaffirmed their Warming beyond the ceiling of temperatures is to achieve stabilization of greenhouse con- commitment to achieving its ultimate objec- reached during the Pleistocene will stress eco- centrations in the atmosphere at a level that tive. The 2010 Biodiversity Target, as agreed systems and their biodiversity far beyond the would prevent dangerous anthropogenic inter- by the WSSD, was further reconfirmed at the levels imposed by the global climatic change ference with the climate. The Climate Change World Summit Review 2005 by stating that the that occurred in the recent evolutionary past. Convention further contemplates that such a Millennium Development Goals and the fight Both the issues related to conservation of bio- level should be achieved within a time frame against poverty and hunger will not be achieved logical diversity and addressing climate change sufficient to allow ecosystems to adapt naturally without winning the baffle against environmen- concerns are intricately linked with each other to climate change, to ensure that food produc- tal degradation and depletion of the biological and have grave ramifications on human welfare tion is not threatened and to enable economic diversity capital of our planet. and overall development. The UN Framework development to proceed in a sustainable man- According to the Millennium Ecosystem Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) ner. There seems be a great deal of comple- Assessment, as far as conservation of bio-

Gincana 3 11 logical diversity is concerned over the last climatic range of many species towards pole mitigation and adaptation options pertaining 100 years, human induced species extinc- ward or upward in elevation from their current to biological diversity of terrestrial and oceanic tion has multiplied as much as 1000 times. locations, extinction of many vulnerable spe- ecosystems could play a significant role in the Some 23 percent of mammals, 25 percent cies and ecosystems, replacement of existing global carbon cycle and their proper manage- of conifers and 32 percent of amphibians are ecosystems by new plant and animal assem- ment; and can make a significant contribution threatened with extinction. 100 to 300 species blages depending on changes in the frequency, in reducing the build‑up of greenhouse gases may be becoming extinct every year. At least intensity, extent, and locations of climatically in the atmosphere. It is, therefore, amply evi- one out of every eight plant species worldwide and non climatically induced disturbances, dent that there are significant opportunities for is threatened with extinction. In addition, 80 changes in net primary productivity of many mitigating climate change, and for adapting percent of the world’s forest cover has dis- species (including crop species), and adverse to climate change, while enhancing the con- appeared and 13.7 million hectares of forest effect on the livelihood of many indigenous and servation of biodiversity. Within the context are destroyed every year. During the last 50 local communities. of the Kyoto Protocol, all the three flexible years, about two third of global agricultural It would be pertinent to mention that reduc- mechanisms need to further explore win‑win land has been degraded and many countries tion of other pressures on biodiversity arising opportunities for mitigation of GHGs through face serious desertification problems. Apart from habitat conversion, over harvesting, pol- various biological processes such as afforesta- from genetic, species and ecosystem loss of lution, and alien species invasions, constitutes tion, reforestation and improved management diversity, traditional knowledge of people using important climate change adaptation measures. of forests and farm lands. However, one has biological resources is also threatened. These In my experience, planning, implementation, to be careful as afforestation and reforestation consequences on the global biological diver- monitoring and evaluation interventions that can have positive, neutral, or negative impacts sity resources due to various anthropogenic involve the communities and institutions most on biodiversity depending on the ecosystem pressures are visible. affected by climate change mitigation and being replaced, management options applied, Let us now explore the likely impact of adaptation activities, and recognize that differ- and the spatial and temporal scales. Similarly the invisible hand of climate change on bio- ent spatial and temporal scales will be required short rotation plantations are not expected logical diversity including overall productivity to assess the implications of biological diver- to sequester and maintain carbon as much of resources, areas of prevalence and suc- sity conservation activities, are likely to be the as long rotation plantations in which vegeta- cession. Changes in climate over the last few most successful. There are significant oppor- tion and soil carbon are allowed to accumu- decades of the 20th century have already tunities for mitigating climate change, and for late. Improved forest management can also affected biodiversity. The observed changes adapting to climate change, while enhancing enhance carbon uptake or minimize carbon in the climate system, particularly the warmer the conservation of biodiversity at the eco- losses and conserve biodiversity. Revegetation regional temperatures, have affected the timing system and landscape scale. The ecosystem activities that increase plant cover on eroded or of reproduction of animals and plants and/or approach of the CBD provides a good basis severely degraded lands have a high potential migration of animals, the length of the growing to guide the formulation of climate change to increase carbon sequestration and enhance season, species distribution and population mitigation policies/projects and conservation biodiversity. sizes, and the frequency of pest and disease of biodiversity. This holistic framework consid- We in India are implementing a massive outbreaks. By currently available assessments, ers multiple temporal and spatial scales and programme for rehabilitation of wastelands and projected changes in climate during the 21st can help to balance ecological, economic, and management of watersheds in the country now century will occur faster than in at least the social considerations in projects, programmes, for many years. In my opinion, plantations of past 10,000 years, and combined with land and policies related to climate change mitiga- native tree species will support more biodiver- use change and exotic/alien species spread, tion and adaptation. sity than exotic species. Similarly, plantations are likely to limit both the capability of species Land‑use, land‑use change and forestry of mixed tree species will usually support more to migrate and the ability of species to persist (LULUCF) activities are known to play an impor- biodiversity than monocultures. Once again, in fragmented habitats. However, the effects tant role in reducing net greenhouse gas emis- I reiterate that involvement of local commu- of climate change would vary from species to sions to the atmosphere by : (a) conservation nities in the design and implementation of species. Similarly different species may face of existing carbon pools, i.e., avoiding defor- such interventions may contribute to enhance varying degrees of climate change effects. For estation; (b) sequestration by increasing the local support. Slowing or reversing defores- a given ecosystem, functionally diverse com- size of carbon pools, e.g., through afforesta- tation and forest degradation, as we have munities are more likely to adapt to climate tion and reforestation; and (c) substitution of achieved in India, can also provide substantial change and climate variability than impover- fossil fuel energy by use of modern biomass. biodiversity benefits in addition to mitigating ished ones. In addition, high genetic diver- The estimated upper limit of the global poten- greenhouse gas emissions and preserving sity within species appears to increase their tial of biological mitigation options (a and b) ecological services. long‑term persistence. It must be stressed, through afforestation, reforestation, avoided Marine ecosystems may offer mitigation however, that the effect of nature and magni- deforestation, and agriculture, grazing land, opportunities, but the potential implications tude of genetic and species diversity on certain and forest management is on the order of 100 for ecosystem function and biodiversity are ecosystem processes is still poorly known. Gt C (cumulative) by the year 2050, equiva- still not well understood. Oceans are sub- The ability of ecosystems to either resist or lent to about 10‑20% of projected fossil‑fuel stantial reservoirs of carbon with approxi- return to their former state following distur- emissions during that period, although there mately 50 times more carbon than is present bance may also depend on given levels of are substantial uncertainties associated with in the atmosphere. There have been sugges- functional diversity. This can have important this estimate. The largest biological potential tions to fertilize the ocean by spraying iron implications for populations, which are typi- is projected to be in subtropical and tropical dust and other means to promote greater cally the most vulnerable. regions. biomass production and thereby sequester The projected impacts due to changes in In my view, the current pace of biological carbon and to mechanically store carbon mean climate, extreme climatic events and mitigation options is inadequate and needs to deep in the ocean. However, the potential climate variability include: movement of the be pursued vigorously. Similarly, climate change for either of these approaches to be effec-

12 Gincana 3 tive for carbon storage and their impacts niques to produce charcoal can also reduce munities. On the other hand, run of the river on ocean and marine ecosystems and their the pressure on forests and woodlots. In India hydropower and, small-dams have generally associated biodiversity need to be further we have launched massive programme for less impact on biodiversity than large dams, explored. Bio‑energy plantations provide the promoting improved cooking stoves through but the cumulative effects of many small units potential to substitute fossil fuel energy with public private partnerships. Hydropower has should be taken into account. biomass fuels but may have adverse impacts significant potential to mitigate climate change As my concluding remarks, I would suggest on biodiversity if they replace ecosystems by reducing the greenhouse gas intensity of that the interactions between the CBD and the with higher biodiversity. However, bio‑energy energy production but can also have poten- UNFCCC should not be confined to participat- plantations on degraded lands or abandoned tial adverse effects on biodiversity. In a few ing in each others Conferences of the Parties agricultural sites could benefit biodiversity. cases, emissions of carbon dioxide and meth- and need to be strengthened many fold. It Similarly, renewable energy sources (crop ane caused by dams and reservoirs may be would also be worthwhile to explore the pos- waste, solar‑ and wind‑power) may have a limiting factor on the use of hydropower to sibility of a comprehensive ecosystem based positive or negative effects on biodiversity mitigate climate change. Large‑scale hydro- action plan by both the CBD and UNFCCC duly depending upon site selection and manage- power development can also have other high supported by other international developmen- ment practices. Replacement of fuel wood by environmental and social costs such as loss of tal and financial institutions for conservation crop waste, the use of more efficient wood biodiversity and land, disruption of migratory of biological diversity as well as addressing stoves and solar energy and improved tech- pathways and displacement of local com- climate change concerns.

Gincana 3 13 Stefan Wallin, Minister, Ministry of the Environment, Finland Biodiversity and Climate Change

limate change is one of the most pressing issues that the world faces C today. The current unprecedented rate at which we are losing biodiversity is a huge threat to the ecosystem services on which we all depend, as has been well documented in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA). The recent IPCC report states that the rate at which the climate is changing may be even markedly greater than estimated earlier. This not only underlines the need to continue our work to mitigate emis- sions, but also that we need to work for enhancing the adaptation of ecosystems and various sectors of society in order to cope with the harmful effects that climate change has on life on Earth. As noted in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, climate change is one of the most important drivers of biodiversity loss. The impacts of climate change on biodiversity have been of major concern to the parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity since 2002 when, following a request from the COP and the SBSTTA, an Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on Biological Diversity and “Climate change is having profound and long-term impacts on human Climate Change was established to carry out an assessment of the interlinkages between welfare and adds yet even more pressure on terrestrial and marine biological diversity and climate change. Climate change is having profound and ecosystems that are already under threat from land-use change, long-term impacts on human welfare and adds yet even more pressure on terrestrial pollution, over-harvesting, and the introduction of alien species.” and marine ecosystems that are already under threat from land-use change, pollution, over- harvesting, and the introduction of alien spe- evidence of biological responses to climate climate change mitigation and adaptation that cies. The Convention on Biological Diversity change, such as changes in flowering times exist through the conservation and sustainable has highlighted the risks, in particular, to coral and migratory patterns, changes in the dis- use of biodiversity. In particular, it is necessary reefs and forest ecosystems, and has helped tribution patterns of species, and changes in to raise more awareness of the relationships to draw attention to the serious impacts of the composition, structure and productivity of between climate change and biodiversity. the loss of biodiversity of these systems on ecosystems and habitats. The AHTEG’s report on interlinkages people’s livelihoods. Biodiversity and climate are intimately between biological diversity and climate change At the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable linked. Climate change has an impact on bio- highlighted these issues from both the biodi- Development (WSSD), the world’s political diversity, and changes in biological systems versity and climate change point of view in an leaders committed themselves to a signifi- affect the climate. On the global scale, some integrative way.1 The report concludes that cant reduction in the rate of biodiversity loss 20 per cent, or even more in some years, of there are significant opportunities for mitigating by 2010. The World Summit also reaffirmed anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions, are climate change, and for adapting to climate the central importance of the Convention on the result of deforestation or human-induced change while enhancing the conservation of Biological Diversity and the United Nations forest fires. Additionally, there are strong links biodiversity. However, these synergies will Framework Convention on Climate Change on local and regional scales between forest not happen without conscious attention to and encouraged the parties to these conven- ecosystems and precipitation. There are also biodiversity concerns. Additionally, the report tions, along with the parties to the Convention significant inter-linkages between climate, for- identifies a wide range of tools that can help to Combat Desertification, to work together ests and marine biodiversity. decision-makers assess the likely impacts effectively. Climate change poses an immedi- We need to ensure that mitigation and adap- and make informed choices. The report is a ate challenge to the achievement of the 2010 tation activities take account of biodiversity, tangible product of cooperation between the biodiversity target. There is increasingly firm and we need to consider the opportunities for parties to the three Rio Conventions.

14 Gincana 3 Sigmar Gabriel, Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Germany

At its meeting in Helsinki in September 2005, the AHTEG prepared a follow-up report to its previous one from 2003.2 The report includes Nature Conservation is advice and guidance on how to integrate biodi- versity considerations into adaptation activities. Climate Protection These activities fall mainly into two categories: biodiversity-specific adaptation activities that primarily aim to minimize the loss of biodiversity, and ecosystem-specific and sectoral adapta- he theme for the 2007 International Day tion activities that primarily seek to reduce the for Biological Diversity is Biodiversity negative impacts on the relevant sector. T and Climate Change. Like the des- As summarised in the report on key issues ignation of 2007 to 2008 as “International for advice and guidance, maintaining biodiver- Polar Year”, and the focus of UNEP’s World sity should be a part of all national policies, Environment Day on climate change, this programmes and plans for adaptation to cli- decision reflects the major importance of this mate change. This is important for the proper topic and the issues connected with it. I too functioning of ecosystems so that ecosystems feel that there is no global development of can continue to provide goods and services, greater cause for concern, no issue on which which is essential if the UNFCCC objective international action is more urgently required and Millennium Development Goals for poverty than climate change, which impacts in par- alleviation, food production and sustainable ticular on biological diversity. economic impacts, for we rely on nature for development are to be met. Effective collab- The public has long been aware of the services which would otherwise not be tech- oration and networking between biodiversity impacts of climate change on mankind—for nically possible, or only with great effort and and climate change communities at all levels example through loss of harvests or devastat- excessive cost. The more intact the self-clean- is necessary for the successful implementation ing floods—and now the media is also report- ing powers of water bodies, the simpler and of adaptation activities for biodiversity and the ing more frequently on the impacts of climate more cost-effective it is to extract drinking integration of biodiversity concerns into climate change on biological diversity. Rightly so, for water. The greater the natural soil fertility, the change adaptation activities and other sectors. these impacts are serious and indirectly also less fertilizer must be spread. In particular, programmes and plans for adap- have a major effect on mankind. The vegeta- On 30 October 2006 the report of the tation to climate change should, according to tion belts will shift northwards or to higher lying former chief economist of the World Bank the summary, take into account the mainte- regions. Habitats are changing due to the loss Nicholas Stern was published, studying the nance and restoration of resilience, which is of glaciers and the rise in sea level. The ability economic consequences of global warming. an essential element to sustain the delivery of of species to adapt to these changes is limited. If we accept the hypothesis that the bene- ecosystem goods and services. Climate change threatens biological diversity fits of all the world’s ecosystems amount to It is clear that integrating biodiversity con- to a catastrophic degree. between 16 and 64 trillion dollars per year, the siderations into adaptation activities is a rap- I do not intend to simply paint a black and statements in the Stern Report are particularly idly developing area with many new national white picture, but with regard to climate change striking: the global economy is threatened with adaptation plans in preparation, including the the facts are clear and the evidence is indisput- costs of nearly seven trillion dollars if we do need to extract lessons learned. Many oppor- able. Climate change already has a dramatic not come to grips with the impacts of climate tunities to further develop synergies between effect on biodiversity, as is shown in a num- change and their devastating consequences for conventions or the sharing of best practice ber of recent studies. The IPCC predicts that nature. To put it plainly: inaction would cause from ongoing work warrant further work and a third of all species living today will be lost damage comparable to the global economic consideration by national governments, the by the end of this century. Mountain regions, crises of the last century; economic common UNFCCC, the UNCCD and the CBD. I trust coral reefs and wetlands are threatened with sense requires us to take action! that it will prove to be a useful step in promoting a devastating extinction of species. Loss of This can be seen especially in the way nat- implementation of the three Rio Conventions species is as irrevocable as melted glaciers, ural ecosystems can act as sinks for green- in a mutually supportive manner. the drastic weakening or even collapse of the house gas emissions: their destruction plays Additionally, we need to continue to work Gulf Stream or an end to the effects of the a significant role in the exacerbation of climate together at the national and international level Amazon forests on the global ecology. For this change. The devastation of natural ecosys- and we should commit ourselves to working reason we must preserve the genetic diver- tems, particularly through forest clearance or more closely together in the future, at national, sity and habitat diversity of all species, even their conversion to intensively used woods and regional and international levels, particularly in if their respective functions in the ecosystem plantations, through the drainage of marshland the area of scientific exchange on biodiversity and their benefit for humans are not yet fully and through development of natural grass- and climate change. understood. To achieve this we must not only lands for agricultural use, has caused around increase our own efforts considerably, we must one quarter of CO² emissions over the past also conduct a great deal of public relations and decades. Here is a fundamental starting point 1. Interlinkages between biological diversity and climate change. Advice on the integration of biodiversity consid- information work in order to convince people for climate policy! erations into the implementation of the United Nations of the essential role of biodiversity. The comments made so far can be neatly Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto To this end, in addition to highlighting summarised: nature conservation is climate Protocol. CBD Technical Series No. 10, SCBD 2003. the ecological aspects, it will be useful to lay protection and climate protection is nature 2. Guidance for promoting synergy among activities address- greater emphasis on the economic benefit of conservation. This may be a banal statement ing biodiversity, desertification, land degradation and climate preserving biodiversity in the public debate. but its consequences are complex. It actu- change, CBD Technical Series No. 25, SCBD 2006. The destruction of biological diversity has major ally means that we must harness the instru-

Gincana 3 15 “We know that nature and its diversity and functions is the basis for all human life…We need to prove that protecting global ments of climate protection for nature conser- vation and vice versa. In the development of biodiversity is financially feasible and promotes rather than the Kyoto Protocol post-2012, the topics of sinks and non-destruction of ecosystems as hinders growth and development.” CO² sources will also play a role. Incorporating emissions caused by deforestation in devel- oping countries into the international climate protection regime presents a special oppor- life and ensuring a sustainable management ous loss of biodiversity is a serious global tunity to achieve nature conservation and cli- of biological diversity. We want to implement threat to mankind which demands a collective mate protection in the international emissions effective measures in order to halt the loss response. We need to prove that protect- trading scheme with one and the same instru- of biodiversity. To this end, we are aiming to ing global biodiversity is financially feasible ment. In the framework of the CBD the nec- improve coordination and cooperation not only and promotes rather than hinders growth essary biodiversity standards must be agreed between the CBD and the UN Climate Change and development. on, for example in the implementation of the Secretariat, but also between the CBD and the Much is said about the protection of natural Framework Convention on Climate Change UN Forum on Forests, trade and industry and resources and sustainable development—espe- and the Kyoto Protocol, especially concerning other relevant players. cially on the occasion of the annual International sinks, deforestation and biomass. A report modelled on the Stern Report, Day for Biological Diversity. However, to people Thus there are already instruments which studying the economic costs of neglected in many countries the topic often seems distant serve nature conservation and climate protec- protection measures and the global loss of and abstract, even though there are natural tion equally. However, cooperation between biodiversity and the positive functions of its riches right on their doorstep. This year, the the two conventions must be improved in ecosystems, would be conceivable for me important topic of biodiversity is linked to the order to make better use of the synergy effects as an important step in the preparations of far more familiar issue of climate change. For between climate protection and nature con- the Conference. We know that nature and me, this is a signal and an opportunity to use servation instruments. The 9th Conference of its diversity and functions is the basis for synergies to bring awareness and acceptance the Parties to the CBD, which will take place all human life: nature ensures oxygen for- of the need to protect biodiversity to the fore. It in 2008 in Bonn, the home of the UN Climate mation and soil fertility, provides drinking is our duty to protect biodiversity, our respon- Change Secretariat, is a good opportunity for water, raw materials and medicines. However, sibility towards future generations. Let us focus this. As the host to global nature conservation, we do not have enough solid evidence or our activities. Let us be ambitious! Let us be we are particularly committed to protecting concrete figures to prove that the continu- united for a living world!

16 Gincana 3 Barry Gardiner, Minister for Biodiversity, Landscape and Rural Affairs, United Kingdom

Climate Change and Biodiversity

here is no doubt that climate change Panel on Climate Change report concluded that cies facing extinction and with 80% bleach- is the greatest environmental chal- an average global temperature rise of between ing of coral reefs (including the Great Barrier T lenge facing the world today. It is no 1.1 and 6.4°C can be expected by the end of Reef). This fi gure rises dramatically to 15-40% longer just a future threat—it is a reality. It’s this century. This projected range is dependant of species facing extinction with an increase widely recognised that the impacts of global on future emissions and remaining scientifi c of 2°C in the global temperature. warming reach far and wide; already climate uncertainty, however, temperature increases Climate change will affect us all—fl ooding, change is casting a perilous spectre over the towards the higher end of this range would be droughts, food shortages and the spread of complex and delicate structure of biodiver- unprecedented in the last 10,000 years. disease have all been predicted. The social, sity worldwide. What isn’t so widely recog- According to the Millennium Ecosystem environmental and economic costs of climate nised is the huge role biodiversity has to play Assessment, by the end of the century, climate change could be massive, and catastrophic, in combating the negative impacts of climate change and its impacts may be the dominant if urgent action is not now taken to tackle this change—in fact, it is one of our greatest direct drivers of both biodiversity loss and global problem. Governments have a huge role weapons. the change in ecosystem services globally. to play in leading the way in taking action. As Globally, the ten warmest years since Key fi ndings summarised in the recent Stern such, we must strive to raise awareness glob- records began in 1850, have occurred in the Review Report show that an increase of just ally about the links between climate change last twelve years. The recent Intergovernmental 1°C would lead to at least 10% of land spe- and biodiversity.

Gincana 3  to continue. Altered oceanic chemistry will have major effects on marine ecosystems and calcification rates of coral, phytoplankton and other species. Coupled with other drivers of biodiversity loss, such as overfishing, adverse consequences on fish stocks are likely. Climate change will affect ecosystem boundaries. Flooding, sea level rise and tem- perature changes will see some ecosystems and species expanding into new areas, and others retreating. The impacts will vary between regions, although scientific models have shown that the most serious impacts will occur where there are no alternative areas for species dis- persal—in polar and mountainous regions, islands and peninsulas, lakes and isolated seas. Modelling of future changes in ‘climate space’ shows that some species will retain or gain space by expansion towards the poles, while others lose space by contracting pole- wards. Such models show that few species will be unaffected by such changes. However, even where there is potential ‘climate space’, many species will face barriers to dispersal and colonization, and as the ability of spe- cies to exploit new space will differ, exist- ing interdependencies between species and community structures are likely to be dis- “Modelling of future changes in ‘climate space’ shows that some rupted. Habitat fragmentation and the isola- tion of protected areas places a constraint species will retain or gain space by expansion towards the poles, on the ability of species to disperse, and the capacity of ecosystems to alter their species while others lose space by contracting polewards. Such models composition. The rate and nature of recent environmental changes is often too fast for show that few species will be unaffected by such changes.” ecosystems, and their component species, to properly adapt. This is particularly the case for those species and ecosystems with nar- Climate change affects biodiversity and cope with the unavoidable consequences of rowly defined environmental tolerances, such changes in biodiversity can also affect cli- past emissions. as coral reefs. mate. Biodiversity plays a crucial role in miti- Many species and habitats are already gating climate change, for example oceans, Impacts of climate change on showing changes in distribution. In particular, peatlands and forests act as massive carbon biodiversity many birds, butterflies, dragonflies and spiders sinks, absorbing and storing carbon from the Climate change is already affecting biodiver- in the northern hemisphere are showing a con- atmosphere. Biodiversity and ecosystems sity and will increasingly become the dominant siderable expansion in their northward range. can also play a significant role in supporting factor leading to biodiversity loss. Rising levels Of 368 species with distribution limits in the adaptation to climate change, for example of carbon dioxide have had, and will continue UK, 297 (81%) have shown a northwards shift coastal marshes, mangroves and coral reefs to have, complex impacts on different elements and 30 limits have moved by over 150km in 25 can provide protection against an increase in of biodiversity and ecosystem functions. But years. Some migratory species are also show- the frequency and intensity of storms. the knock-on effects that rises in greenhouse ing changes to their overwintering sites, often It is clear that any action to address climate gases will have in terms of increases in tem- by altering their migration distances. change needs to focus on both mitigation perature and changes in rainfall, will have far Evidence has also shown changes in popu- and adaptation. The Intergovernmental Panel wider and more damaging effects. For many lation sizes and relative abundance, advances on Climate Change recently highlighted that species, climate change presents a greater in the timing of reproduction or migration, the planet will undergo unavoidable climatic threat to survival than simply changes in their increases in the length of growing seasons in changes over coming decades due to past natural habitats. Existing pressures from habi- many regions and an increase in the frequency global greenhouse gas emissions and the lag tat destruction and unsustainable use may be of pest and disease outbreaks. time in the climatic system. Therefore, we need further exacerbated by the impact of measures global action not only to mitigate greenhouse to adapt to climate change. Role of biodiversity in mitigating gas emissions and avoid future dangerous As a direct result of increasing atmospheric climate change climate change, but also to ensure that adap- levels of carbon dioxide, more carbon dioxide Biodiversity plays a crucial role in the provi- tation policies are in place that will enable us, is being dissolved in the world’s oceans. This sion of ecosystem services. One of these key and the biological diversity of the planet, to has already reduced ocean pH and is projected services is climate regulation and storage of

18 Gincana 3 “There is much that we can now do to give a better future for biodiversity, and it is in our interest to do so, governments simply cannot use scientific uncertainty as an excuse to do nothing. The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity have encouraged all Parties to integrate biodiversity considerations into all their relevant national policies, programmes and plans in response to climate change and we are working to fulfill this.”

greenhouse gases (GHG’s). Forests and other I welcome the discussions taking place examples. The results show that significant plant life are especially important for regulat- under the UNFCCC to reduce emissions from changes in climate space are projected for ing the climate. Trees are often described as deforestation in developing countries. These most species identified as priority species in carbon ‘sinks’ due to their ability to absorb discussions also pose an important opportu- the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. However, for and store CO². It is estimated that the world’s nity for other benefits to be considered aside some species at the northern edge of their forests store 283 gigatonnes (Gt) of carbon from reduced GHG emissions. Such multiple range, warming could potentially allow them in their biomass alone, and 638 Gt of carbon benefits include biodiversity conservation, to expand whilst those already restricted to the in the ecosystem as a whole (to a soil depth enhanced ecosystem services and livelihood north of the country may lose suitable climate of 30 cm). Thus forests contain more carbon opportunities for communities dependent on space. The research has been used to inform than the entire atmosphere. Roughly half of forests. the adaptation of nature conservation policy total carbon is found in forest biomass and Biodiversity is important in increasing the and management practice within the context dead wood combined, and half in soils and resilience of the environment to the impacts of of a changing climate. litter combined. changing climatic conditions, because func- We have also supported research at the Cutting down and burning large sections tionally diverse communities are less vulnerable international stage. A study into the strength of forest releases the stored CO², leading to and better equipped to adapt to a changing of links between climate change and the abun- an increase in the levels of CO² in the atmo- climate. dance, distribution and behaviour of migratory sphere and contributing to global warming. species, found that birds like the Chiffchaff Therefore, reducing deforestation can contrib- So what are we doing? are now living in Britain all year round, instead ute to climate change mitigation via sink pro- There is much that we can now do to give of migrating south. Although the information tection and enhancement, emission reduction, a better future for biodiversity, and it is in our available varied between species, it found that and supply of renewable biofuels. The Stern interest to do so, governments simply cannot climate change is likely to lead to most species Review highlighted that over 18% of global use scientific uncertainty as an excuse to do facing changes in food availability, as well as GHG emissions—more than from all global nothing. The Conference of the Parties to the loss of breeding and wintering habitat. transport—arise from changes in land use, Convention on Biological Diversity have encour- primarily deforestation. Forests also play a key aged all Parties to integrate biodiversity consid- Conclusion role in regulating temperature and moisture in erations into all their relevant national policies, It is clear that climate change poses an the atmosphere. Hence, measures to reduce programmes and plans in response to climate increasing challenge to meeting our interna- deforestation will have a range of benefits. change and we are working to fulfill this. tional objectives and commitments to biodiver- It is therefore critical that any action plan to In England, we have already started this sity. It is set to become the dominant cause of mitigate climate change includes the effective process by establishing a Climate Change biodiversity loss in the present century. management of these ecosystems. Adaptation work stream as part of the England Scientists, academics and policy makers; With careful attention to biodiversity con- Biodiversity Strategy—to provide better guid- from both the climate change and biodiver- siderations, afforestation and reforestation ance on impacts of climate change, identify sity communities, need to join their exper- projects in appropriate areas can mitigate research needs and promote adaptation of tise, in policy and research. I was pleased to climate change and support human popula- policies and programmes in all relevant sec- see that last year there was a joint meeting of tions that depend on forest resources and tors—including agriculture, water management the UNFCCC and CBD Subsidiary Bodies on the ecosystem services that forests provide, and land use planning. This will need to be Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice. such as food, materials, medicines, soil and a long term activity as we gain new knowl- In the UK we are building on this: in June the water resources. edge and review our successes and failures Royal Society will host a workshop in London in Peatlands and oceans are also important as part of an ongoing process of adaptive collaboration with the UK Government entitled carbon sinks. Peatlands store the equivalent management. “Biodiversity—Climate Interactions: adaptation, of 75% of all atmospheric carbon. They also We have supported a considerable mitigation and human livelihoods”. store large amounts of methane. The need to amount of research on the implications of In the face of so much uncertainty one conserve these important ecosystems is clear climate change for biodiversity. For exam- thing is clear: we need to work together on a from the estimation that the peat fires of 1997 ple, the MONARCH research programme global scale to combat the negative impacts of in Indonesia, released over 40% of the global (Modelling Natural Resource Responses to climate change. Part of this is recognising and total GHG emissions for that year. For the last Climate Change), has developed models of understanding the vital tool that biodiversity is 200 years, oceans have absorbed over half the how the suitable climate space for species in helping us to redress the delicate balance of carbon dioxide produced by fossil fuel burning might move under a changing climate, using the natural world that a single species, human and cement production. a range of species from various habitats as beings, has disturbed.

Gincana 3 19 Nicolas Hulot, Fondation Nicolas Hulot pour la Nature et l’Homme L’impératif écologique comme opportunité pour l’humanité

drement des équilibres du vivant menace la des deux grands systèmes économico-poli- survie de l’espèce humaine, puisque la santé tiques qui se sont partagés le monde, le sys- et les activités de celle-ci dépendent du bon tème capitaliste et le système collectiviste. fonctionnement des écosystèmes. Que ce C’est, au vrai sens du terme, une question soit par ses activités ou par le changement d’intérêt général. Et quel intérêt, puisque la climatique provoqué, l’Homme détruit sans vie de chacun est en jeu ! mesure le vivant qui partage et fait vivre sa Un autre système doit donc émerger autour planète. Nous l’oublions souvent, surtout du concept de développement durable afin de dans nos sociétés « riches » mais nous ne conjuguer les impératifs d’aujourd’hui avec les sommes pas dissociés de la nature qui nous nécessités de demain, et la solidarité envers entoure, nous en sommes partie prenante et les générations d’aujourd’hui avec la solidarité dépendents. envers les générations futures. C’est avant tout Or, nous nous mentons à nous-même. un devoir de pays riche ! Collectivement et individuellement. Dans le Aujourd’hui, il n’y a pas d’autre alternative regard que nous portons sur les êtres et les que de construire cette troisième société. Nous choses, dans notre refus de faire allégeance à avons besoin du jaillissement de la créativité la nature, dans notre obstination à croire que et de l’inventivité humaine pour aider l’huma- ’est une évidence : la Terre a atteint les problèmes s’arrangeront tout seuls. Et notre nité à conjuguer ses impératifs écologiques un seuil de vulnérabilité sans précé- solitude est à l’image de notre aveuglement. et sociaux mais, simultanément, c’est à la C dent. J’ai tellement fait le tour de notre planète que je ressens charnellement la fragilité des écosystèmes et l’imbrication de la commu- « Nous devons apprendre à retrouver notre place au cœur de la nature. nauté de destin entre les êtres humains de quelque origine qu’ils soient. Chaque fois que Nous avons trop longtemps cru en occuper le centre. » la beauté naturelle est menacée de destruc- tion, c’est pour moi le sort de l’Homme et sa dignité qui sont en jeu. Pour la première fois dans l’histoire, les révision comportementale et sociétale de nos ennemis les plus redoutables que nous avons civilisations qu’il faut s’attacher. Aujourd’hui chacun peut percevoir à affronter ne sont pas les autres mais nous- L’impératif écologique offre cette opportu- combien notre Terre est traumatisée. mêmes. L’Homme d’aujourd’hui endosse un nité providentielle à l’humanité de se ressaisir. Cela fait trente ans environ que la crise éco- double rôle, celui de responsable et de victime Si nous savons le maîtriser, l’impératif écolo- logique est apparue au grand jour. Pourtant et comme le disait Victor Hugo, « à force de gique permettra d’approfondir et de renforcer il y a déjà eu dans l’histoire de la planète des vouloir posséder, nous sommes nous-même la civilisation humaine, de raisonner et d’agir à cycles climatiques et des extinctions d’es- possédés » des échelles plus longues. C’est une chance pèces, mais jamais ils ne furent d’une telle C’est en effet une évidence : nous som- unique de faire cause commune, de tirer le rapidité. La catastrophe qui se profile est bien mes à la croisée des chemins, l’ère de l’abon- meilleur de nos systèmes de pensée tout en plus terrible qu’une sixième extinction. Les dance est terminée et celle de la rareté des abandonnant les excès et rigidités qui nous extinctions précédentes se sont faites sur ressources naturelles s’annonce. Le choc nous ont conduits dans des impasses. des échelles de temps permettant au vivant est promis à un moment où l’incertitude, les En ce printemps 2007, alors que les fran- de s’adapter, celle-ci prend de vitesse la vie déséquilibres, les inégalités s’aggravent sur la çais vont avoir à choisir leurs dirigeants, je et sa capacité d’évolution. planète. De multiples défis dont le changement propose que cette vaste mutation économi- Chaque disparition d’espèce constitue un climatique et la crise de la biodiversité et leurs que, sociale et culturelle, à engager, s’organise préjudice inestimable pour l’humanité. Ainsi, conséquences pour nos sociétés humaines autour d’un « pacte écologique ». le Millennium Ecosystem Assessment élaboré sont à relever. L’idée du pacte consiste à dire que l’en- par les Nations unies établit que 60 % des Le système du progrès est grippé. En jeu écologique du temps présent, parce qu’il services vitaux que les écosystèmes fournis- portant atteinte aux équilibres du vivant, l’ex- est plus que tout autre d’essence collective, sent à l’humanité sont dégradés ou exploités cès de nos productions, l’outrance de nos parce qu’il détermine l’avenir de tous et celui de manière non rationnelle. C’est également consommations, la dérive de nos compor- des générations futures, parce que c’est en une catastrophe qui nous concerne d’un dou- tements ont engendré quelque chose qui quelque sorte la vie qu’il retient en otage, doit ble point de vue : nous en serons la cause et nous dépasse et qui s’est retourné en risque conduire à dépasser les différences politiques en subirons les conséquences. Car l’effon- majeur. L’impératif écologique sonne le glas traditionnelles. M’adressant au futur chef d’état

20 Gincana 3 Julia Marton-Lefèvre, Director General, The World Conservation Union (IUCN)

de mon pays, j’affirme que l’impératif écologi- que n’est pas une priorité, c’est la priorité ! J’en Climate Change and appelle aux hommes et femmes politiques pour qu’ils fassent preuve de lucidité et de courage, Biodiversity: Two d’une nouvelle attitude politique, concentrée sur l’essentiel de l’enjeu, fédératrice des énergies, des esprits, des forces vives, de la créativité, Conventions, One Goal capable d’insuffler un élan populaire. À ce jour, la plupart des candidats à l’élec- tion française ont signé ce pacte, près d’un million de français également et ce n’est qu’un s we celebrate the International Day début. Je voudrais rêver d’une contagion de for Biological Diversity, which this ce pacte à l’Europe et pourquoi pas au reste A year focuses on Climate Change and du monde. Biodiversity, it is important to understand L’impératif écologique nous offre la chance where we are and what actions we must take de mutualiser au niveau mondial les ressour- to tackle the daunting challenge that climate ces, les moyens et les cultures. change poses. Nous devons apprendre à retrouver notre I think it is fair to say that remarkable prog- place au cœur de la nature. Nous avons trop ress has been made on these topics sepa- longtemps cru en occuper le centre. rately. The Convention on Biological Diversity Et si nous voulons continuer à revendiquer (CBD) inspires and guides international and une souveraineté quelconque sur cette Terre, national efforts to reduce the rate of biodi- que ce soit en ne limitant pas nos efforts à la versity loss—making an important contribu- seule protection de la vie humaine mais en tion to poverty reduction and the wellbeing l’étendant à l’ensemble du vivant, tous ensem- of societies around the world. After years of their significant but differentiated responsibili- ble exerçons enfin sur cette terre, non pas hard-fought negotiations, the Kyoto Protocol ties to slow the pace and reduce the severity une domination aveugle, mais une vigilance to the United Nations Framework Convention of climate change. globale. Que nos enfants ne puissent se dire on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has come into There is no longer any doubt, however, that plus tard : « les salauds,ils savaient » force, offering hope that countries will take up measures taken to date to curb climate change

Gincana 3 21 and deal with its future impacts fall short of Species), protected areas, sustainable water Unfortunately, major obstacles stand in what is needed to protect biodiversity during use, marine and forest management and post- the way of a global consensus on reductions the coming period of climate-driven ecosys- tsunami coastal mangrove restoration. in greenhouse gas emissions from industry, tem changes. All our successful conservation IUCN’s members have also called for adap- transport, agriculture and natural areas. First, efforts will be reversed without substantial tive strategies to be incorporated in all efforts to developed countries have not yet moved action on two fronts—fostering adaptation by address development and biodiversity conser- decisively to take responsibility for the future ecosystems, of which humans are an integral vation. Protected and productive landscapes environmental consequences of their past part, and mitigating the pace and severity of and seascapes are equally at risk from rapid activities. Second, decarbonising the energy climate change. climate change. Maintaining the productivity sector will place a burden on rapidly develop- Climate-driven impacts on ecosystems, of farms, forests, rivers and seas and attenu- ing economies that developed countries did and consequently on communities that depend ating natural disasters is going to be just as not encounter when they were industrializing. on ecosystem services, are already evident. difficult as conserving biodiversity. We will have Third, many countries that will suffer most Particularly ominous are those impacts that to re-examine any conventional wisdom on from climate change have not contributed to release more carbon into the atmosphere— conserving biodiversity and maintaining eco- the problem and do not have the means to reinforcing climate change—and those impacts system services that assumes a stable climate develop measures to cope with this change. that further undermine subsistence agricul- or ignores climate variability. And finally, the divergent needs and time frames ture. Such feedback from ecosystems to the We have no room for complacency. The of individuals, enterprises and governments atmosphere is particularly severe in the Arctic, pace of climate change is accelerating faster need to be reconciled.

“We must break this logjam. We must develop the knowledge, empower societies and promote the governance necessary for every country to do the best it can to limit emissions of greenhouse gases. We must achieve fair, equitable and effective sharing of responsibilities, and do so quickly.”

where melting permafrost, boreal forest fires than that of our remedial efforts. In my opin- We must break this logjam. We must and erosion of coastal peat lands release meth- ion, its pace and pervasiveness make climate develop the knowledge, empower societies ane and carbon dioxide. Dramatic as these change the greatest single threat to biodiver- and promote the governance necessary for recent changes have been, they will pale in sity, as well as a complicating factor in efforts every country to do the best it can to limit comparison to consequences that the loss to cope with many other threats. We cannot emissions of greenhouse gases. We must of Amazon tropical forests would have for simply rely on the ability of natural and agro- achieve fair, equitable and effective sharing of biodiversity and global climate. ecosystems to adapt spontaneously, or on our responsibilities, and do so quickly. The human communities that are most vul- ability to discover and implement successful Perhaps the focus until now has been too nerable to rapid climate change and increased adaptation strategies everywhere they will be much on the mechanisms of how we go for- climate variability are those already coping with needed. The dangerous gap between adap- ward and not enough on where we want to go. extreme variability and desertification. In semi- tive capacity and rapid climate change must If we were to focus first on the goal of taming arid lands, the loss of even small amounts of be narrowed by substantive action to mitigate climate change, I believe that wide agreement soil moisture due to increased evaporation puts emissions. could be found on the future we all seek and thousands of people at risk. Others, such as Fortunately, we have significant oppor- the dangers we all wish to avoid. The World the Inuit and Pacific Islanders, face the slow tunities for mitigating climate change while Conservation Union (IUCN) is committed to but inexorable loss of the landscapes and enhancing biodiversity conservation. The helping forge such a consensus. seascapes on which both their livelihoods and efforts of developing countries to gain formal Recent scientific findings underline the their cultures depend. recognition for emissions avoided from defor- importance of setting and meeting targets Through its own projects and its efforts estation and degradation of tropical forests for the level of mid-century atmospheric green- to support members around the world, the need due consideration in this regard. At its house gas concentrations that do not burden World Conservation Union is deeply commit- most recent meeting of the Conference of the next generation with an impossible choice: ted to reducing the vulnerability and enhancing the Parties, the CBD welcomed the start of catastrophic change in the climate system or the adaptive capacity of natural ecosystems the process within the UNFCCC to consider devastating disruption to the socio-economic and the communities that depend on them. ways and means to reduce emissions from system. Surely, we can find and follow a path We seek to knit together a Global Adaptation deforestation in developing countries and that keeps other options open. Support Network so that lessons learned in recognized that effective actions to reduce Untamed, climate change will be the ulti- one location can quickly assist management deforestation could constitute a unique mate “Tragedy of the Commons”. We have only efforts in similar environments elsewhere. We opportunity for biodiversity conservation. one planet and it has only one atmosphere. are presently updating some of our own flag- The UNFCCC’s Subsidiary Body on Scientific Everyone suffers when it is polluted. We can ship services to ensure that each recognizes and Technological Advice (SBSTA) has held avert tragedy if everyone embraces the prin- the impacts of climate change and promotes two preparatory workshops on this topic ciples of sustainable development and acts adaptation. Examples include our work on and I trust that their May meeting will report quickly to meet today’s needs without fore- species (including the Red List of Threatened significant progress. closing future opportunities.

22 Gincana 3 Thomas Lovejoy, President of the Heinz Center for Science, Economics and the Environment

Climate Change: Implications for Nature

n examination of the temperature of are temperature and rainfall; for an aquatic the Earth for the last 100,000 years one it is temperature and pH. In this case, A reveals two important insights. One the acidification has grave implications for all is that abrupt (rather than gradual) climate organisms that build shells from calcium car- change is the norm. The second is that bonate, corals among them. for the last 10,000 years temperature has Nature is already on the move, but these been unusually stable. That period includes signals are basically mild—even trivial. They are recorded human history, a lot of our unre- really just first symptoms of what is to come. corded history, the origin of agriculture and To start with, there is about an equal amount the origin of human settlements. It is obvious of climate change in store from current green- that the entire human enterprise depends on house gas concentrations. Beyond that of the assumption of a stable climate. So dis- course is the yet unanswered question of how rupting the climate system is even more dan- much climate change will occur and how much gerous than we may have thought. should be permitted. We do know there are Particularly disturbing are the implications inherent challenges to conservation because for the biological underpinnings of civilization. it is virtually certain that climate change will The interface of climate change and biological not be linear and gradual, and that it will be in diversity/conservation has existed as a topic for terms of precipitation as well as temperature. about 30 years. It was first raised by Robert L. We also know from paleontology that biologi- Peters, then of the Conservation Foundation, cal communities do not move—like Birnam and not long afterward in a conversation I had Wood—as a unit. Rather, individual species with Stephen Schneider, then at the National move in their own directions and at their own Center for Atmospheric Research. Peters and rates with the consequence that familiar eco- I organized the first symposium on the topic in systems will disassemble and reassemble into 1987, and later turned that into the edited vol- novel assemblages. With so much in flux we ume “Global Warming and Biological Diversity”, will see the balance shift in favor of invasive which appeared in 1992. This was followed by a completely new volume I edited with Lee Hannah, “Climate Change and Biodiversity”, which appeared in 2005. “Climate change of course is not new in the history of life on earth but The most important difference between the two volumes is that in the first we dealt with what is new is the massive conversion of landscapes from natural ones what might happen, whereas in the second there are multiple examples of signals in nature, to various forms of human use. Those basically constitute an obstacle of plants and animals responding to the climate change that has already taken place. The sig- course for species dispersing in response to climate change.” nals include changes in the timing of various aspects in life cycles (flowering times, such as the grapes in Bordeaux, which now bloom and weed species. Further, we already see it is clear that it will only be useful in a small three weeks early; changes in migration dates, evidence of threshold changes in ecosytems: number of cases. nesting and egg laying times etc), changes in they will only become more frequent and more So, one of the most important measures distribution both altitudinally and latitudinally, wrenching. is to improve connectivity in landscapes, in mismatches in relationships between spe- Obviously there is a tremendous agenda on essence making them more permeable to cies (when one is cued by day length and the the energy side of climate change (including dispersal. Often the connectivity is useful for other by temperature), threshold changes in non-biological sequestration), but also there is other purposes as in the restoration of riparian ecosystems (e.g., massive mortality in north- a crying need for a new paradigm for conser- vegetation to protect freshwater ecosystems. western North American coniferous forests vation. Climate change of course is not new Enhancing connectivity, together with reduc- from the pine bark beetle), as well as effects in the history of life on Earth, but what is new tion of other stresses (e.g. more conventional of retreating ice on species from polar bears is the massive conversion of landscapes from pollution), are two general proscriptions for to seabirds and rising sea levels on coastal natural ones to various forms of human use. enhancing plant and animal capability to survive ecosystems and species. In addition we are These basically constitute an obstacle course climate disruption. For species on low islands seeing system changes. The most profound for species dispersing in response to climate and at the tops of elevations, however, there is the acidification of the oceans because of change. While there has been some consid- will be no place to go, so they become part of more CO² in the atmosphere. For a terrestrial eration of helping species move through these the later argument for really curtailing further organism the two most important parameters obstacle courses (termed “assisted migration”), climate change as much as possible.

Gincana 3 23 There will inevitably be questioning of the the rubric of “avoided deforestation”. There are sion is that voices for nature are rarely heard value of the current array of protected areas technical and legal problems needing resolu- and as a consequence possible concentration in the world because they will not be able to tion to be sure, but addressing this issue vig- levels of two and three times pre-industrial fulfill the purposes for which they were origi- orously must be high on the global agenda. levels are discussed almost nonchalantly. I nally set aside. Existing protected areas in fact Reforestation (natural forest), of course, makes believe that double pre-industrial (i.e., 560 become even more important for conservation a contribution in terms of sequestering CO², ppm) will be disastrous for life on Earth, and because they are the safe havens from which can enhance connectivity and have positive that even 450 will be very disruptive. This is future biogeographic patterns will emerge. biodiversity value. hard to prove, but any biologist looking at Conservation will in fact only become more Probably the single most important thing the response already occurring and thinking important: we will need more conservation to conservation can do is help form the con- about an additional amount of climate change cope with climate change. sensus of where the line should be drawn would conclude there is a biological emer- There is one extremely important area of on climate change. It is already clear that the gency at hand. Some may wave their hands conservation that can help address climate biological world is the most sensitive of all the and conclude it is impossible to do anything change itself, namely forest conservation. concerns about climate change impact. With about the current course, but in my view that The most recent IPCC report estimates that change rippling through the natural world and is blinkered thinking. Whatever the flaws of the currently 23% of greenhouse gas emissions an equal amount of climate change already Stern report, it is correct that climate change come from the destruction of forests, primar- on the docket from existing greenhouse gas will constitute a greater cost to society than ily tropical ones, so reducing that makes a concentrations, it is clear that “dangerous the cost of addressing it. That has always been direct contribution to limiting climate change. anthropogenic interference” is already at hand. the case in environmental debates, and surely This has been the sleeper issue of climate Coral reefs alone tell us that. is so when the very biological underpinnings of change and is finally being addressed under The most dangerous aspect of the discus- our civilization are at such grave risk.

24 Gincana 3 Camille Parmesan, Associate Professor of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin

Evolution or Extinction?

ill global warming lead to the sixth the ditch—a major climatic shift is in progress. mass extinction event? Or will life If we want to predict the impacts of human- W be more resilient? Will the teeming caused change in global climate, our best biodiversity that we now enjoy collapse down clues can be found by looking, not at biologi- to a few, extremely hardy souls, or will evolu- cal impacts of twentieth-century fluctuations, tion save the day? Climate change is a natural but much further back in time to when climate part of Earth’s history, so why worry? Answers truly did show shifts of the magnitude that we are even now upon us—both extinctions and now anticipate. adaptations are already happening, and both If we look over the past few hundred-thou- will continue to shape life as we know it over sand years, we see in the fossil records that the the coming centuries and millennia. freezing and warming cycles of the Pleistocene The study of impacts of climate change is glaciations caused massive relocation of plants not a new topic in biology. It has a rich history in and animals. Range shifts of thousands of kilo- the scientific literature, since long before there metres were common as Earth went from a were political ramifications. Way back in 1917, a scientist named Grinnell concluded that the geographic boundaries of many species were determined by climate—individuals living at the “Birds arriving for their spring migration, butterflies emerging from edge of their range were living in as extreme an environment as the species could tolerate overwintering, trees leafing out after winter dormancy and the and survive. The history of biological research is full of studies of the impacts of weather first blooms of flowers are all about two weeks earlier than they and climate change on wild species. During the 1930s and 1940s, the climate in northern were 30 years ago…” Europe “ameliorated,” bringing warm summers and mild winters. Researchers published a plethora of papers about earlier spring flow- glacial age (when much of Europe and North consensus was that the species most affected ers and northward expansions of the ranges of America were covered in ice), to an interglacial by global warming would be those restricted birds and butterflies. In the 1960s and 1970s, age (as we’re in now). If we go even further to cold climate habitats, like Earth’s poles or European climatic conditions became “harsh”, back, to when Earth was much warmer than mountain tops, and those able to tolerate only with cold and wet summers starting about today (several million years ago), we see that a narrow range of temperatures (e.g. tropical 1950. A second wave of papers came out many species did go extinct in the transition corals). Less than a decade later, those very documenting the lateness of spring flowers from this “hot” Earth to the Pleistocene “cool” predictions have been borne out. and the southward contractions of the same Earth. Most species that were adapted to “hot” Mountain species are following the climates species of birds and butterflies that had ear- Earth are long gone. Species that survived are to which they are adapted by shifting their lier expanded northwards. Given the dynamic adapted to a relatively cool Earth. Human- ranges to higher elevations. However, for a nature of Nature, it’s no wonder that the pub- driven global warming is taking us into a future, population already at the top of its mountain, lic is confused about whether or not to worry which is warmer than it has been for thou- the preferred elevation now contains only sky. about global warming. sands, and possibly for millions, of years—to In many regions, high-elevation species are Why is human-driven warming any different an Earth that will lie outside the evolutionary being pushed off their mountaintops. We see from recent natural variation in climate, such as experience of many plants and animals cur- this in the American pika—an adorable little that experienced in northern Europe over the rently living. It will be no surprise if these spe- mammal well known to mountain back-pack- 20th century? The answer is simple. Natural cies suffer high extinction rates. ers for skittering along talus slopes carrying warming and cooling trends have been like a Less than 10 years ago, as this informa- flowers in its mouth. We see it again in an icon lone car on a deserted highway not bother- tion was sinking in, biologists were struggling for European naturalists—the Apollo butter- ing to stay in a lane: the wobbles back and to foresee the future. Which species would fly—whose translucent white wings with their forth have been relatively small, short term, be most sensitive to global warming? How bright red patches glide effortlessly between and there’s a strong tendency to move back many species would go extinct? Would there craggy mountains. The Apollo butterfly and to the middle. Global mean temperature has be winners as well as losers? I was involved the pika have lost many of their lowest popu- hardly changed in the past 10,000 years. But in several independent teams struggling with lations and are gradually becoming confined now we are changing from an earth with tem- these questions—from conservation organi- to only the highest mountains. peratures that fluctuate a bit, to one that will be zations like the IUCN to scientific panels like What of the ultimate “cold-Earth” species— warming into the foreseeable future. Whether the IPCC—and the conclusions were remark- those whose habitat is actually floating sea you imagine this as the car heading off onto ably similar. While no one felt that predictions ice. Surprisingly, none have gone completely a new, unexplored highway, or just going into about particular species could be made, the extinct; but as sea ice declines, populations

Gincana 3 25 are declining in numbers, and their ranges are animals have been affected by recent, human- species have been lost. slowly contracting poleward. The emperor driven climate change. Some species, those with short genera- and adelie penguins have declined by 70%– While geographic patterns of humans con- tion times like insects, are showing genetic 95% at their most equatorial populations in tracting different diseases is well-documented, adaptation—evolution—in response to climate Antarctica (along the Palmer Penninsula) as the distributions in the wild of organisms that change. Unfortunately, these changes are small sea ice has steadily shrunk or disappeared. cause those diseases are often not well-stud- and unlikely to protect species from climate- But more worrying for their long-term future ied. However, parasites that cause tropical caused extinction. Even though the frequen- is that even some populations closest to the diseases are not fundamentally different from cies of existing “hot-adapted” genotypes are South Pole have declined. The Arctic has its other wild species. We therefore expect them increasing across populations in many species, own martyrs. There’s an emerging debate as to to respond in the same way as more charis- truly new traits are not emerging. We are not whether the polar bear should be the first spe- matic species for which we have better long- seeing new mutations that would allow species cies to have its official cause of decline listed as term data on their natural distributions. Just as to exist in climates outside their previous range “global warming” under the U.S. Endangered tropical birds and butterflies have spread into of tolerance. In other words, species can play Species Act. Europe and the USA, we expect, then, that around with the genetic variation they already At the other end of spectrum, systems parasites and their vectors will extend their have, but evolving new, even “hotter” adapted that we associate with hot beaches, bath- ranges from the tropics towards the poles, genotypes, is a process that’s likely to be too warm waters and cold drinks—species that introducing human diseases as they invade slow to keep pace with rapid, human-driven we might think would be hot-adapted—are new areas. In fact, human health is already climate change. also suffering. Sixteen percent of tropical coral being affected. For the year 2000, the WHO The good news is some northern-hemi- reefs worldwide were killed off by heat during estimated that 6% of malaria infections, 7% sphere species are able to move their ranges the single extreme El Niño of 1997/1998. A of dengue fever cases and 2.4% of diarrhea faster than we thought they could as cli- coming threat is the increasing acid- mate warms at their northern range ity of the oceans. The pH of tropical boundaries. These are species that waters has already dropped from 8.2 already had a few individuals that to 8.1 as carbon dioxide is absorbed were good at moving. The propor- and converted to carbonic acid. As tion of “movers” has increased at the pH continues to drop, the ability of range boundaries, and this local evo- animals to construct hard shells will lution has allowed these species to decline dramatically. Some coral biol- expand northward into new territories ogists fear that “business as usual” very rapidly. More good news is that projections could lead to tropical cor- some species that are adapted to a als being unable to build and maintain wide array of environments—globally reefs by 2050. common, or what we call “weedy” or We’re seeing impacts of current urban species—will be most likely warming on every continent and in to persist. every ocean. We’re also seeing very So what will life on Earth look like similar responses in very different over the lives of people now being types of organisms—from butter- born? There’s obviously a range of flies in Finland to fish in the North possibilities, depending on how pol- Sea, from foxes in Canada to trees icy-makers and the public, as indi- in Sweden, from birds in Antarctica viduals, decide to change our habits. to starfish in Monterey Bay, California. What are the possible future worlds? Forty-percent of wild species are showing could be attributed to climate change. This Even the minimum projections—of another changes in their distributions—shifting their is principally due to increased frequency and 1.8°C—are more than twice what we’ve already ranges north and south towards the poles and intensity of flood events, which in turn have seen. All of the changes I talk about above have up mountains. An astonishing 62% are show- been linked to human-driven global warming. occurred with just 0.7°C warming. “Business ing changes in their seasonal timing—spring These numbers are likely to grow as these dis- as usual” projections are for another 4°C rise; is earlier and fall is later. Birds arriving for their eases expand their geographic ranges. with some models estimating over 6°C rise in spring migration, butterflies emerging from We can already see more severe effects of global temperature. These higher projections overwintering, trees leafing out after winter disease spread in the wild world, particularly represent a climate the Earth hasn’t had long- dormancy and the first blooms of flowers are for a group of amphibians appropriately named term exposure to for several million years— all about two weeks earlier than they were 30 “harlequin” frogs. These bespeckled jewels of outside the evolutionary history of much of life years ago across the northern hemisphere. My the clouds have served as poster-children for on Earth now. Temperature changes of that colleague, economist Gary Yohe, recognized preservation of tropical cloud forests. Ironically, magnitude (> 6°C) in the past have often led that this was what economists would call a now that many sites have successfully been to substantial extinction events, especially if “globally coherent” signal of climate change protected, global warming has crept from the climate change was rapid. We need to impacts in natural systems across the world. behind and staked its claim. Seventy-four implement major emission reductions now This coherence—this systematic pattern—is species of cloud forest harlequin frogs have so that we keep future global warming down important because it tells us that species and gone extinct in Central America. They aren’t to those lower projections—down to “just” systems for which we don’t have any data dying because they’re too hot, but because another 1.8°C. We can’t afford the worst- are likely to be showing similar responses to climatic conditions have now become perfect case scenario either in terms of conservation those with detailed, long-term data. Globally, for a deadly fungus. As this fungus invades the of biodiversity, human health, or our economic we estimated that half of all wild plants and mountains, even some of the highest elevation stability.

26 Gincana 3 Anilla Cherian, Ph.D., Environmental Consultant 1 An Inescapable Truth: Responses to global climate change need to be linked to the conservation and sustainable management and use of biodiversity resources.

nvoking the precautionary principle, the with its own catastrophic perils. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change article calls for new and improved efforts The peculiar irony of the precautionary prin- (IPCC), may help to frame a more energized I to understand and address the link- ciple is its explicit recognition that the lack of global commitment towards defining new ages between global climate change and “full scientific certainty” should not be used as opportunities and rules of engagement for biodiversity loss. Improved knowledge and a reason for avoiding or delaying cost-effec- responding to the problem. The report, which work on the linkages between the two Rio tive and efficient response measures related was produced by around 600 authors from 40 Conventions are especially relevant for devel- to grave and irreversible threats. Here, it countries, and reviewed, by over 620 experts oping countries, particularly Small Island should be noted that Article 3.3 of the United and governments, is an affirmation of a global Developing States (SIDS) and least developed Nations Framework Convention on Climate scientific consensus. Its Summary for Policy- countries (LDCs), because the adverse effects Change (UNFCCC) specifically states that Makers (SPM), which was reviewed line-by- of climate change imposes severe stresses Parties Òshould take precautionary measures line by representatives from 113 governments on existing fragile and vulnerable natural to anticipate, prevent or minimize the causes during the 10th Session of Working Group I in resources. Efforts to assess and respond to of climate change and mitigate its adverse February 2007, states unambiguously that the the adverse impacts of global climate change effects. Where there are threats of serious warming of the climate system is “unequivocal”. on biodiversity loss, and more importantly, or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific So now the question is whether the release of efforts to ensure that the sustainable man- certainty should not be used as a reason for the IPCC 4th Assessment Report will set off agement, conservation and use of biodiversity postponing such measures.” a seismic change in policy responses to the resources can contribute towards effective The Preamble to the Convention on global climate change problem. adaptation to climate change, are especially Biological Diversity (CBD) also references simi- In light of the recent IPCC findings, and urgent for developing countries. lar language stating that, “…where there is a keeping in mind the precautionary principle, Exercising precaution is widely recognized threat of significant reduction or loss of bio- one area where urgent action is needed is as a critical concept in addressing global pub- logical diversity, lack of full scientific certainty an improved understanding of the linkages lic health concerns, and one which global should not be used as reason for postponing between biodiversity resources and global public health advocates closely adhere to. measures to avoid or minimize such a threat.” climate change, both in terms of impacts and Unfortunately, the precautionary principle Despite being enshrined in the both the CBD response measures. Highlighting the signifi- appears to be a rather neglected concept in and the UNFCCC, the precautionary principle cance of the impacts of global climate change responding to global environmental challenges has not catalyzed the requisite global action on biodiversity loss, the CBD, in its role as such as climate change and biodiversity loss. needed to undertake the kind of far-reaching the first global, comprehensive convention The scope, dynamic nature and long-term hori- adaptation and mitigation measures that are to address all aspects of biological diversity zons of the global environmental problems have required to fully address climate change and (genetic resources, species, and ecosystems), resulted in cautious, ad hoc global response biodiversity loss. has recently called for focused attention on mechanisms and measures, but ignoring the However, the release this February, of the possible linkages between the work of precautionary principle and avoiding effective, “Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science the United Nations Framework Convention responsive action at the global level comes Basis”, the report of Working Group I of the on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol

Gincana 3 27 and itself. The CBD established an ad hoc “Clearly, a two pronged strategy is required. The first prong would technical expert group in 2001 to carry out an assessment of the interlinkages between be to enable developing countries to undertake, comprehensive biodiversity and climate change. The rationale for the current article are assessments of the adverse effects on global climate change on directly derived from the CBD’s call to focus on the linkages between global climate change biodiversity resources, with a particular emphasis in identifying and biodiversity loss, and are based specifi- cally on the key findings of the report entitled, global climate change related impacts on specially threatened or “Interlinkages between Biological Diversity and Climate Change” prepared by the tech- extremely vulnerable ecosystems and habitats.” nical expert group in 2003.2 The report con- cluded that there are significant opportunities for adapting to climate change while enhancing mate change and to ease its adverse impacts.3 ticular emphasis in identifying global climate the conservation of biodiversity. The report of the technical expert group con- change-related impacts on specially threat- There is little doubt that the cause and effect vened by the CBD notes that adaptation is ened, or extremely vulnerable, ecosystems relationship between global climate change necessary not only for the projected changes and habitats. The second prong would be to and biodiversity loss has grave consequences in climate but also because climate change is improve knowledge management and respon- for a number of developing countries that are already affecting many ecosystems. Climate sive capacity amongst developing countries repositories of unique and endemic biodiversity change-related adaptation options that have about the linkages between the sustainable resources. Despite being repositories of some been identified could include: activities aimed management, conservation and use of biodi- of the world’s most unique and diverse species at conserving and restoring native ecosys- versity resources and adaptation responses and ecosystems, many developing countries, in tems, managing habitats for rare, threatened, to global climate change. particular Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and endangered species, and protecting and What is at stake is the nagging reminder and least developed countries (LDCs), lack enhancing ecosystem services. of the precautionary principle, that “too little” the necessary technical, economic and insti- Examples of climate change adaptation or “too late” action will mean insurmountable tutional capacity to ensure the long-term con- measures that simultaneously address biodi- costs. With every new hurricane and mon- servation of unique species of flora and fauna. versity loss include: community based activi- soon season, and with the tragic aftermath Factors such as limited national capacities and ties that are aimed at improving the health of of extreme weather-related events in 2004- resources, ecosystem fragility, high incidence coral reefs which in turn allows reefs to be 2005 all over the world, concepts such as: the of endemism, and the extreme vulnerability to more resilient to increased water temperature increased intensity and frequency of extreme natural and anthropogenic disasters make the and reduce bleaching. Another example is the weather-related events, sea-level surges, inun- conservation and sustainable management of protection and restoration of coastal ecosys- dation of poor and vulnerable coastal commu- biodiversity difficult challenges to address and tems, such as mangrove and salt marsh veg- nities, endemic habitat and species loss and overcome in these countries. etation, which can protect coastlines from the the destruction of fragile ecosystems no longer What is troubling is that although global impacts of climate induced sea-level rise, and seem so far-removed. The inescapable truth climate change has been recognized as an also have biodiversity benefits.4 is the linkages between the impacts of global important cause of biodiversity loss; what is Recognizing the impacts of climate change climate change on biodiversity resources, and less well understood are the ways and means on biodiversity and response measures, the an improved understanding of relevant climate by which the conservation and sustainable CBD noted at its fifth meeting that there is change-related adaptation measures that are management and use of biodiversity resources significant evidence that climate change is the based on the principles of sustainable man- are key factors in effective climate change primary cause of the recent, severe and exten- agement, conservation and use of biodiversity adaptation measures. There are two crucial sive coral bleaching, and that this evidence is resources, matters for all, and not just devel- but inter-related issues that need to be urgently sufficient to warrant remedial measures being oping countries. addressed from a developing country per- taken in line with the precautionary approach. spective: In addition, the CBD notes that differential 1. This article has been prepared by Dr. A. Cherian, an inde- • Adverse effects of climate change are a responses to climate change by species and pendent consultant who has worked on climate change, major cause for the loss of valuable and ecosystems may lead to disruptions and bio- energy and biodiversity initiatives/projects for range of UN agencies including UNDP and UNDESA, the World Bank- unique biodiversity resources in develop- diversity loss and may also increase threats GEF, the University of West Indies, and the Rockefeller ing countries that are least able to respond from invasive alien species.5 Foundation The paper may not be cited or otherwise trans- and adapt to this challenge; and, Developing countries face a number of mitted without permission. • Sustainable management, conservation capacity, institutional and resource constraints 2. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), “Interlinkages between Biological Diversity and Climate Change” pre- and use of biodiversity resources can con- in responding to global environmental chal- pared by the Ad hoc Technical Expert Group on Biological tribute towards effective adaptation to cli- lenges. Work that is focused on understand- Diversity and Climate Change. (CBD. Technical Series No. 10) mate change. ing the linkages between of the most pressing 2003. Available on the internet at http://www.biodiv.org/doc/ From the perspective of this article, it is global environmental challenges makes sense publications/cbd-ts-10.pdf important to point out that in context of global in the face of serious constraints and in terms 3. Additional information on adaptation and vulnerability can be obtained from the technical and policy assessments pre- climate change, “adaptation” refers to adjust- of pooling resources effectively. pared by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. ments (in processes, structures and policies) Clearly, a two-pronged strategy is required. 4. BD, op.cit.., pg. 76 and 80. that are made in response to actual or expected The first prong would be to enable developing 5. CBD/SBSTTA, “The impact of climate change on biologi- climatic stimuli or their effects. The overall aim countries to undertake comprehensive assess- cal diversity and response measures”, and “Overview of the of adaptation is to reduce a system’s (national, ments of the adverse effects on global climate interlinkages between biological diversity and climate change.” local or ecosystem) vulnerability to global cli- change on biodiversity resources, with a par- UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/6/11, page 10-17.

28 Gincana 3 This document is printed on paper made from 100% post consumer fibre using a chlorine-free bleaching process. It is Eco-logo and FSC certified and manufactured using energy derived from biogas. “The time has come to realize that investing in the resilience of ecosystems will ensure that future generations are not only bequeathed the dazzling variety of nature we take for granted, but are also much better able to cope with the less stable climate they will unfortunately inherit.” —Ahmed Djoghlaf, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY