High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People

Co-Chaired by Costa Rica, France and the United Kingdom, the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People launches today at the One Planet Summit in Paris 

PARIS (11 January 2021) -— As the natural world continues to disappear at an unprecedented rate, a group of over 50 countries—which (as of 10 January 2021) together harbour 30% of global terrestrial biodiversity (using vertebrates as a proxy) and a quarter of the world’s terrestrial carbon stores (biomass and soil), and 28% of ocean biodiversity priority areas and over a third of the ocean carbon stores—have announced their commitment to protect at least 30% of the globe’s land and ocean by 2030, and to champion an ambitious global deal to halt species loss and protect ecosystems that are vital to human health and economic security. Their announcement kicks off what Costa Rica, France and the United Kingdom call an urgent year for action on biodiversity and the climate. 

Launched today at the One Planet Summit for biodiversity, the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and People, which is co-chaired by Costa Rica, France and the United Kingdom, brings together over 50 governments from across six continents aiming to secure a global agreement to protect at least 30% of the planet’s land and at least 30% of the planet's ocean by 2030 at the Convention on Biological Diversity COP15, which will be held this year in Kunming, China.

ALPHABETICAL LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE HIGH AMBITION COALITION: [Updated as of March 2022] Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Botswana, Cambodia, Canada, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, European Commission, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea Bissau, Honduras, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kingdom of Bhutan, Liberia, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Republic of Albania, Republic of Congo, Republic of Korea, Republic of Maldives, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia,Spain, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sweden, Switzerland, The Gambia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Zambia

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What is the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People?

The High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and People is an intergovernmental group of more than 50 countries co-chaired by Costa Rica and France, and the United Kingdom as Ocean co-chair. The aim of the Coalition is to secure a global deal for nature and people that can halt the accelerating loss of species and protect the vital ecosystems that safeguard human health and economic security. 

How many governments have joined the HAC?

The HAC’s membership currently includes 50 governments across Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania and the Americas. And many other countries have expressed interest in joining. The members are: Angola, Armenia, Benin, Botswana, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Czech Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Ethiopia, European Commission, Finland, France, Gabon, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Japan, Kenya, Marshall Islands, Mexico, Monaco, Mongolia, Mozambique, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Portugal, Republic of Congo, Romania, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom.

What are the HAC’s specific goals?

The group is pushing for a global agreement to protect at least 30% of the planet’s land and ocean by 2030 at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, known as the “30x30 target”. Indigenous peoples and local communities are protectors of the most biodiverse sites in the world. To effectively and equitably meet this increased target, they should be engaged as partners in the design and management of these conserved areas, ensuring free, prior and informed consent and alignment with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The HAC for Nature and People has created a task force to address indigenous people and local communities' concerns and promote indigenous wisdom in the CBD negotiations. This task force has initiated a dialogue with the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity.  Other goals include promoting nature-based solutions within the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and supporting the adoption of key elements of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework at COP15, in particular the effective management of protected and conserved areas, increased public and private financing to ensure their long-term management and local governance, and efficient implementation mechanisms to put nature on a path to recovery by 2030. 

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11th of January, 2021 More than 50 countries commit to protection of 30% of Earth's land and oceans, The Guardian

11th of January, 2021 Drive for goal to protect 30% of planet by 2030 grows to 50 nations, Thomson Reuters Foundation News

11th of January, 2021 50 countries vow to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030, The Washington Post

11th of January, 2021 Una alianza internacional busca proteger el 30% de la tierra y el mar en 2030, Agencia EFE

11th of January, 2021 Frankreich will Milliarden Bäume in der Sahara finanzieren, Der Spiegel

11th of January, 2021 'Losing biodiversity creates problems for humanity,' Costa Rica's president tells FRANCE 24, France 24

11th of January, 2021 Costa Rica liderará esfuerzo global para conservar superficies terrestre y marina de aquí al 2030, La Nación

12th of January, 2021 50 countries pledge to protect at least 30% of world’s land and oceans by 2030, The Independent

12th of January, 2021 World leaders call for concerted action on biodiversity, climate change, Xinhua

13th of January, 2021 ASEAN body welcomes outcomes of One Planet Summit for Biodiversity, ACB

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