Kuala Lumpur (24 February 2022)--A new poll conducted in the biodiverse-rich nations of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines--three of the world’s 17 mega biodiverse countries--revealed overwhelming support for a global target to protect at least 30% of the planet’s land and ocean by 2030. Almost all respondents--96% in Malaysia, 98% in Indonesia and 95% in the Philippines--support the global goal, and 84% of Malaysians, 94% of Indonesians and 85% of Filipinos want their respective governments to also support the global target.
Commissioned by Atri Advisory, the survey was conducted by Vase.ai, a well established polling company in the region. Conducted over three days in February, the poll is the first-ever to measure public opinion in the three countries on the global 30x30 goal in the lead up to a major biodiversity summit later this year in Kunming, China. There, 190 countries--including Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines--are expected to finalize and approve a global strategy, known as the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), designed to stave off a biodiversity crisis that threatens up to one million species with extinction in the coming decades.
Negotiators from these countries will gather in-person in Geneva, Switzerland 13-29 March to iron out the details of the GBF, which includes a target to protect 30x30 as one of its central elements.
The High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People (HAC)--an intergovernmental coalition of more than 80 countries co-chaired by Costa Rica, France, and the UK is championing the 30x30 goal. Cambodia is the first and currently only HAC member from the ASEAN region. Other Asian members include Japan, India, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, and the Maldives.
Overwhelming scientific evidence and economic data shows that conserving at least 30% of the planet’s land and ocean is a key way to help address global biodiversity loss--in addition to storing carbon, preventing future pandemics, bolstering economic growth, increasing fisheries’ production, and advancing Indigenous rights.
The economic benefits of conserving 30x30 are strong: an independent study prepared by more than 100 economists and experts found that meeting the 30% target will generate financial and ecosystem services benefits at least five times the cost.
The findings of the new opinion poll released today also include the following:
- 80% of Malaysian respondents, 92% of Indonesians and 95% of Filipinos said they were either extremely or very concerned about the biodiversity crisis.
- 87% of Malaysian respondents, 93% of Indonesians and 91% of Filipinos said they were highly or somewhat aware of global negotiations on a new set of biodiversity goals and targets, scheduled for agreement in Kunming, China.
78% of Malaysians, 86% of Indonesians and 77% of Filipinos were highly or somewhat aware of the proposal to commit to protecting at least 30% of the planet by 2030.
UCSI IISDS 2nd Invitational Lecture 2023
The Involvement of a Scientist in Science Diplomacy by Dato' Dr Saw Leng Guan | In-person lecture @UCSI University Kuala Lumpur Campus