OWG Proposed Target 15.1
RATING: GOOD. Overall it is unlikely the target of sustainable use of ecosystems can be met. But if focus is on restoration of degraded critical ecosystems then the target may be achievable and the benefit to cost ratios should be favorable. The mention of wetlands is welcomed. They provide numerous biodiversity and service benefits (regulation services, food, genetic, medicinal and habitat services). Some effective policies include various kinds of payment schemes for ecological services (PES), international donor support for ecosystems with significant global environmental benefits etc.
Setting the Right Global Goals
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You can read about our prioritization project, setting smart, cost-effective goals in this op-ed published around the world including Turkey, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Uganda, South Korea, Costa Rica and the Philippines.
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In our recent report, not just the target above, but all 169 targets have been assessed by 60 teams of the world’s top economists. The targets have been categorized into five ratings based on evidence of economic, social, and environmental costs and benefits. While we applaud that the UN Open Working Group's final outcome document contains 43 fewer targets than the previous document, we are concerned that many targets have simply been combined, therefore reducing the number of both phenomenal and poor targets assessed according to our cost-benefit analysis. Our new assessment includes suggestions for how these can be improved as reported in this article by the Financial Times.