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Climate change and biodiversity: interlinkages and policy options

Climate and biodiversity policies need to be better connected, and addressing climate change and biodiversity decline together is central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). This is the call of the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP), a global network of more than 140 science academies.

IAP Statement on Climate Change and Biodiversity: Interlinkages and policy options
Image: InterAcademy Partnership IAP

The IAP statement outlines how measures that benefit biodiversity have the potential to support climate action and vice versa. It also discusses instances where approaches to address climate change can undermine efforts to protect or enhance biodiversity. Some policy measures are beneficial in both areas, but this is not guaranteed.

Climate change and biodiversity decline are predominantly caused by human activities and have profound consequences for people and the ecosystems on which we depend. The UN conferences on biodiversity (COP15) and on climate change (COP26) this and next year provide an opportunity to focus international attention on the interconnectedness and interdependence of climate change and biodiversity.

Maria J. Santos from the University of Zurich and Scientific Advisory Board member of the Swiss Biodiversity Forum contributed to the IAP statement on behalf of the Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences.

Pages: 12 p.

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Dr. Roger Pfister
Swiss Academies of Arts and Sciences
House of Academies
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3001 Bern
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