Standfirst

In the SDGs, where have biodiversity and ecosystem services gone?

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Photo: R. Worrall/Unsplash

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Despite evidence that biodiversity and ecosystem services are relevant to every single of the Sustainable Development Goals, they remain chronically undervalued and largely missing in targets set by the SDGs

As the world is entering the last decade to meet the goals, a change in thinking and approach is needed.

In this episode centre researcher Albert Norström talks to Liz Selig, who is the Deputy Director at the Center for Ocean Solutions at Stanford University, and Belinda Reyers from the Stockholm Resilience Centre here at Stockholm University. She is also the Research Chair in Sustainability Science at Future Africa Campus at University of Pretoria in South Africa.

They warn that unless action is taken, progress toward the goals is jeopardised.

So the question remains: how can we better capture the role of biodiversity for sustainable development?

Relevant readings

In the SDGs upcoming “decade of action”, biodiversity and ecosystem services remain chronically undervalued

Global targets that reveal the social–ecological interdependencies of sustainable development

About Rethink Talks

Rethink Talks is Stockholm Resilience Centre’s multimedia podcast series on resilience thinking and global change. It spotlights conversations between experts on a range of topics that highlight how resilience thinking and biosphere stewardship add value to current debates on for instance COVID-19.