The Agenda 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals provide a framework for governments, businesses and communities to ensure economic growth planning does not lead to destruction of the environment. The Covid-19 pandemic is a stark reminder of our dependence on nature, and the economic costs and burden that come with failure to safeguard our animal, human and ecosystem health which are intrinsically linked. In May 2021, the state signatories to the CBD will meet to discuss and adopt a post-2020 global biodiversity framework. A critical part of this framework is the need to revisit our economic growth models to ensure that economic growth and development does not come at a cost to the environment. In Africa, biodiversity and natural capital underpin the major sectors of the economies of many countries, including agriculture, health and tourism.

Source: Daily Nation July 18, 2020 14:33 UTC