Download Presentation: Synergies

Biodiversity and
Climate Change
United Nations Convention on
Biological Diversity
Section 1: Impacts of climate change on
biodiversity
Section 2: Impacts of biodiversity on climate
change
Section 3: Climate change within the
Convention on Biological Diversity
Section 1: Impacts of Climate Change
on Biodiversity

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment – climate change is
the second greatest threat to biodiversity


Climate change is changing species through:
• shifting habitat
• changing life cycles
• the development of new physical traits
Climate change is reducing the ability of indigenous and
local communities to sustain traditional, biodiversitybased livelihoods
Die-offs
Coral bleaching die-offs of up to 50% in the
Indian Ocean
Extinctions
A species of Golden Toad in Costa Rica
Life Cycles
Gothic marmots emerge from hibernation
about a month earlier than 30 years ago
Physiology
The average weight of adult female polar
bears has decreased by more than 20%
over the last 25 years
Section 2: Impacts of Biodiversity on
Climate Change
•
Reducing emissions from deforestation and
other forms of land use change
Providing a ‘safety net’ of genetic resources for
adaptation
•
•
Providing protection (bioshields) against the
negative impacts of climate change
Reducing
Emissions
Forests account for more than half of the
global stock of carbon stored in terrestrial
vegetation and soil
Biodiversity
Safety Net
Land races of many crops are providing
genetic material for the development of
drought-resistant crop varieties
Bioshields
The value of mangroves as coastal
protection has been estimated at $25 –
$50 per hectare
Section 3: Climate Change within the
Convention on Biological Diversity
The cross-cutting issues on biodiversity
and climate change
COP decision VIII/30:
1.
recommendations for the enhancement of
climate change considerations in all
Programmes of Work and
2.
information on the role of protected areas
The Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Climate Change
and Biodiversity
Four AHTEGs:

First meeting 21 - 25 January 2002

Last meeting 13 - 16 September 2005
AHTEG reports were published as two technical series:

TS 10 - Interlinkages between biological diversity and
climate change

TS 25 - Guidance for Promoting Synergy Among Activities
Addressing Biological Diversity, Desertification, Land
Degradation and Climate Change
Climate Change Components of the
Programmes of Work
Forest
Biodiversity
Mitigate the negative
impacts of climate change
and promote forest
biodiversity considerations
in mitigation and adaptation
Inland Waters Attention to the impacts of
climate change and the role
of inland waters in
mitigation and adaptation
Climate Change Components of the
Programmes of Work
Marine &
Coastal
Mountain
Biodiversity
Impacts of climate change
on coral reefs and need to
consider climate change
in protected area planning
Need for more information
on climate change and
the vulnerability of
mountain biodiversity to
its impacts
Climate Change Components of the
Programmes of Work
Island
Biodiversity
Address challenges to island
biodiversity from climate
change and pollution
Dry and Sub- Conservation taking into
humid Lands account climate change
Agricultural
Climate regulation & carbon
Biodiversity
sequestration recognized as
ecological services provided
by agricultural biodiversity
Article 8j on local and indigenous communities
and traditional knowledge
COP decision VIII/5 B
1.
noted the specific vulnerabilities of indigenous
and local communities to the impacts of climate
change
2.
requested further research on climate change
vulnerability targeting highly vulnerable
indigenous and local communities
Joint work undertaken with the UNFCCC
•
Called for in multiple COP decisions (eg.
decision VIII/3)
•
Coordinated through the Joint Liaison Group
•
Focuses on technology transfer, vulnerability
and adaptation, and reducing emissions from
deforestation
Section 4: Response of the Convention on Biological Diversity
2010 Biodiversity Target
Target 7.1: Maintain and enhance resilience of
the components of biodiversity to adapt to
climate change