India Joins High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and People

What is the news?

At a ceremony held between the French and Indian governments in New Delhi, India officially joined the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People.

What is the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and People?

The High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People was initiated at the “One Planet Summit” in Paris in January 2021. The coalition aims to promote an international agreement to protect at least 30 % of the of world’s land and ocean by 2030 (30×30 target).

The 30×30 target is a global target that aims to halt the accelerating loss of species and protect vital ecosystems that are the source of our economic security.

HAC is co-chaired by Costa Rica and France, and by the United Kingdom as Ocean co-chair.

Members: At present, the group has more than 70 countries encouraging the adoption of the global goal to protect 30×30. The members of HAC currently include a mix of countries in the global north and south. These include European, Latin American, Africa and Asia countries are among the members.

India is the first BRICS country to join the HAC.

Why 30×30 target is needed?

Currently, an estimated 15% of the world’s land and 7% of the ocean are protected. In order to address both the biodiversity crisis and the climate crisis, there is growing scientific research that half of the planet must be kept in a natural state. Some research papers have suggested that the number should be even higher.

Despite this, experts agree that a scientifically credible and necessary interim goal is to achieve a minimum of 30% protection by 2030. So, to achieve this, the world needs to double the current land protections and more than quadruple current ocean protections.

What is the significance of India joining HAC?

India is a major player in biodiversity protection. So, joining the HAC is a real game-changer and will boost multilateral efforts to protect 30×30.

There is a high-level biodiversity meeting, hosted by China, to take place virtually in October this year. The meeting will focus on key aspects of the biodiversity treaty to be finalized in 2022. The global 30×30 goal is currently a centrepiece of the treaty. So, India’s membership will boost the adoption of the biodiversity treaty.

Source: This post is based on the article “India Joins High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and People” published in ‘PIB’ on 07 October 2021.