Climate Change

Biodiversity and Climate Change

There is now broad scientific and political consensus that we have entered a period of unavoidable and unprecedented climate change. Impacts on biodiversity in the EU are already measurable. Climate change has the potential, over a period of a few decades, to undermine our efforts for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Substantial cuts in global greenhouse gas emissions are required to mitigate the longer–term threat to biodiversity. We have honoured our Kyoto commitments, but more ambitious global emissions targets post–2012 are needed in order to limit the increase in global annual mean temperature to no more than 2°C above pre–industrial levels.

Protection and sustainable use of biodiversity can help limit atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations because forests, peat lands and other habitats store carbon. Ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and mitigation, green infrastructure, working with nature provide multiple benefits at a comparatively low cost. Therefore these approaches must be an integral part of the overall adaptation and mitigation effort. Policies will also be needed to help biodiversity adapt to changing temperature and water regimes. This requires in particular securing coherence of the Natura 2000 network. Care must also be taken to prevent, minimise and offset any potential damages to biodiversity arising from climate change adaptation and mitigation measures.

One of the 10 objectives of the Biodiversity Action Plan is to support biodiversity adaptation to climate change.

A study was carried out to provide an overview of the likely impact of climate change on biodiversity in the European Union and give recommendations for policy and research.

Summary Report of the study on "Impacts of climate change and selected renewable energy infrastructures on EU Biodiversity and the Natura 2000 network"

On 1 April the European Commission adopted its White Paper Adapting to Climate Change – Towards a European Framework for Action, recognizing the importance of ecosystem resilience and encouraging the development of "measures which address biodiversity loss and climate change in an integrated manner to fully exploit co-benefits and avoid ecosystem feedbacks that accelerate global warming"

Read more about climate change adaptation

A study was carried out on assessing the potential of ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and mitigation in Europe.

Final Report of the study "Assessing the potential of ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and mitigation in Europe"

Work is ongoing on drafting guidelines for Natura 2000 and climate change. The guidelines will not only assess the threats posed by climate change to Natura 2000 but also highlight the positive contribution it can make in mitigating the effect of climate change (e.g. carbon storage, flood protection).

Discussion Paper - Towards a Strategy on Climate Change, Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity

UNFCCC COP 15 in Copenhagen – side event on 12 December 2009:
"Climate change, ecosystem services and biodiversity"

Maintaining and restoring natural ecosystems as carbon sinks and resources for adaptation is a necessary, efficient and cost-efficient strategy for climate change mitigation and adaptation - in addition to technological emission reductions. This is further elaborated at the side event.

Flyer for side event

The Rio Conventions' Ecosystems and Climate Change Pavilion

This Pavilion is a collaborative outreach activity involving the Rio Convention secretariats, with the Global Environment Facility and other important partners, including UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme, UNDP (United Nations Development Programme), the European Commission and others. It is a platform for raising awareness and sharing information about the latest practices and scientific findings on the co-benefits that can be realized through implementation of the three Rio Conventions. It is providing a place for negotiators and other key decision makers, scientists, civil society and practitioners to discuss the links between biodiversity, climate change and sustainable land management with a view to identify integrated approaches with mutual benefits. It was convened for the first time in 2010 at the tenth Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD COP 10, October, 2010) in Nagoya, Japan and at UNFCCC COP 16 in Cancun. In 2011 the Pavilion will be convened in October 2011 at the 10th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP 10) in Changwon, Republic of Korea and in December 2011 at the 17th conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Conventions on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 17) in Durban, South Africa. The Pavilion partners hope to also extend the momentum of these collaborative initiatives to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Brazil in 2012, Rio + 20.

Factsheet on the Rio Conventions' Ecosystems and Climate Change Pavilion

Read more about the Rio Conventions' Ecosystems and Climate Change Pavilion.

Ecological Connectivity

Climate change will significantly affect economies and societies through its impacts on ecosystems. This is because the impacts of climate change on man are largely mediated by natural systems. Healthy ecosystems will be more resilient to climate change and so more able to maintain the supply of ecosystem services on which our prosperity and wellbeing depend. They lie at the centre of any adaptation policy. Consequently 'conventional' pressures that cause the fragmentation, degradation, over-exploitation and pollution of ecosystems must be reduced ('ecosystem climate-proofing').

Biodiversity climate change adaptation tools, such as flyways, buffer zones, corridors and stepping stones, enhance the coherence and interconnectivity in Europe.