The past 12 months will, of course, be remembered for COVID-19 and the terrible suffering and disruption it caused to millions of people. But could 2020 also be seen as the year when humanity finally awoke to the crisis of nature loss?
WWF International Director General Marco Lambertini explores this question in his new blog on the day when WWF publishes its review of the last year.
He highlights how global conservation efforts in 2020 have been strongly shaped by the disastrous COVID-19 pandemic, with its roots in environmental threats such as deforestation and the wildlife trade.
Although COVID-19 has led to many challenges, it has also provided ultimate proof of why humanity can no longer take the natural world for granted. As a result, biodiversity and nature have risen to the top of the global agenda like never before, with a growing recognition of the links between the nature, climate and health crises.
This new awareness was demonstrated at the first ever UN Biodiversity Summit, and in the Leaders’ Pledge for Nature – a commitment by over 80 world leaders to reverse nature loss by 2030, including putting nature at the heart of COVID-19 recovery strategies.
But awareness and commitments now need to translate into action and fast.
Marco Lambertini says: “The coming years will be a crucial test of whether humanity truly values nature – and is ready to act and embrace a truly sustainable future where both people and nature thrive. If there has ever been an opportunity to heal our relationship with nature, and build a safe future for our children, that opportunity is now.”
Read the WWF Annual Review 2020
The coming years will be a crucial test of whether humanity truly values nature. © WWF