Research Reveals Benefits of Joint Action on Climate and Nature

Conserving areas important for biodiversity can secure vast carbon stocks.

Using new data and novel analytical approaches, research released today by the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) with a number of supporting partners underscores the size of the prize on offer from integrating action to save nature and combat climate change.

Strengthening synergies: how action to achieve post-2020 global biodiversity conservation targets can contribute to mitigating climate change, finds that conserving 30 per cent of land in strategic locations could safeguard 500 gigatonnes of carbon stored in vegetation and soils – around half the world’s vulnerable terrestrial carbon stocks – and reduce the extinction risk of nearly 9 out of 10 threatened terrestrial species.

Launched today at an event convened by the UN-REDD Programme as part of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) Race to Zero Dialogues, the report shows that coordinating priority areas to conserve both biodiversity and carbon stocks is key to meeting ambitious goals for both nature and climate. It highlights areas where global conservation action can deliver the most to achieve biodiversity goals and mitigate climate change.