A European network of organisations, coordinated by LifeWatch ERIC, has published a white paper outlining a joint commitment to use scientific expertise and digital innovation in advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Biodiversity at the Core of Global Challenges
The white paper highlights a crucial message: biodiversity does not function as a stand-alone issue. Indeed, it forms the foundation of climate resilience, human health, food security, and economic stability. Therefore, to address today’s triple planetary crisis—biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution—the scientific community, policymakers, civil society, and both public and private sectors must act together.
Moreover, when facing these challenges, Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) play a central role. They drive data-based decision-making, encourage cross-sector collaboration, and promote multidisciplinary approaches to design and implement effective solutions. For example, a workshop in New York in September 2024 already illustrated this vision, as the network demonstrated how collective impact achieves stronger and more sustainable results than individual efforts.
Contributing to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
The white paper offers concrete contributions to the seven strategic priorities and twenty-three specific targets of the K-M GBF. Specifically, it lays out practical pathways for action that strengthen biodiversity conservation and advance the Sustainable Development Goals. In addition, the document links with broader UN STI priorities and sets the stage for building a global alliance. This alliance brings together diverse knowledge systems, connecting advanced digital tools and genomic research with traditional ecological practices.
Towards a Global Alliance with the white paper
Ultimately, by fostering collaboration across disciplines and sectors, the initiative aims to integrate biodiversity into broader global agendas. As a result, the alliance envisions a mechanism that aligns actions across key domains such as climate, health, food security, and equity, ensuring that efforts remain connected and mutually reinforcing rather than fragmented.
Read the full white paper here: https://riojournal.com/article/168765