Ireland's State of the Environment Report 2024

176 Chapter 7: Nature 4. Global and European policies, plans and programmes for nature Since the Dáil declared a biodiversity emergency in 2019 (Topic Box 7.2), the policy landscape has changed dramatically (Figure 7.19). Figure 7.19  Environmental policies, plans and programmes that influence biodiversity Nature: National Biodiversity Action Plan, Wildlife Act, Oireachtas Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action Climate: Climate Action Plan, Climate Act Agriculture: Common Agriculture Policy Strategic Plan Forests: Forestry Programme 2023-2027, Forest Strategy, Forestry Act Water: Water Action Plan, Nitrates Action Programme Oceans: Proposed Marine Protected Areas Bill Biodiversity: National Citizens’ and Young People’s Assemblies Local: County Council Biodiversity Actions Plans etc UN Convention on Biological Diversity UN Sustainable Development Goals EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030 Birds Directive Habitats Directive Water Framework Directive Nitrates Directive Marine Strategy Framework Directive EU Nature Restoration Law OSPAR Convention GLOBAL REGIONAL NATIONAL Source: Adapted from NPWS, 2024 12 unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement (accessed 4 April 2024). 13 sdgs.un.org/goals (accessed 4 April 2024). The UN Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework In 2022, the United Nations Biodiversity Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted a landmark agreement to guide global action on nature through to 2030. Known as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), this agreement aims to address biodiversity loss, restore ecosystems and protect indigenous rights. The GBF includes concrete measures to halt and reverse nature loss, including protecting 30% of the planet and restoring 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030. It also contains proposals to increase finance to developing countries. NPWS (2024) provides more detail on the alignment of government policy and the fourth iteration of the National Biodiversity Action Plan with the GBF targets. The framework contains global goals and targets (Figure 7.20) that aim to protect and restore nature for current and future generations, ensure its sustainable use and encourage investment in a green global economy. Together with the Paris Agreement 12 on climate change and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 13 the agreement paves the way towards a climate-neutral, nature-positive, resilient world by 2050.