NEW DEAL FOR NATURE AND PEOPLE TELEVISION (ND4NP-TV)

Context:

Global trade and economic growth over the last half century have driven huge improvements in health and living standards but also undermined the stability of the Earth’s natural systems and exacerbated global inequality. The 2020 Living Planet Index shows that global populations of mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish have suffered an average 68% decline in less than half a century (from 1970 to 2016). The main cause of this dramatic decline is habitat loss and degradation, including deforestation, driven by how we as humanity produce food. Nature powers industry and enterprise but we are using up ‘natural capital’ and degrading natural systems faster than nature can replenish and restore them, exceeding Earth’s overall bio capacity by 58% according to Ecological Foot printing.

According to the World Economic Forum Global Risks Report 2020, the top five most pressing challenges facing Africa and the world over the next decade are, for the first time, all related to the environment, and include biodiversity loss and climate change. Failure to tackle nature’s decline will increase nature-related risks, further disrupt supply chains, threaten global food security, and cost the global economy at least $479 billion a year – amounting to $10 trillion by 2050. Our economies are embedded within nature but economics do not recognize that human health, wealth and security depend on safeguarding environmental health, according to the forthcoming Dasgupta Review on the Economics of Biodiversity. The 2030 Agenda is rooted in the idea that human development and well-being cannot be achieved without simultaneously safeguarding and investing in nature and managing disaster risk in a systemic manner – otherwise development gains will be short-lived and unevenly distributed.

The recent outbreak of COVID-19 and recently, its variances represent the latest in an unfortunately growing list of disasters confronting humanity. The COVID-19 pandemic in Africa and the world is not only a challenge for global health systems, but also a test of our human spirit. Its social and economic impacts have been creating a global crisis unparalleled in the history of the United Nations—and one which requires a whole-of-society response to match its sheer scale and complexity.

To face those global challenges, we must redefine our relationship to nature through the New Deal for Nature and People with the vision to halt and reverse the catastrophic loss of biodiversity and put nature in the path of recovery for present and future generation. This is essential in this last decade of the implementation of the sustainable development goals.

In view thereof, in 2020, while the pandemic was beating, African Network of Young Leaders for Peace and Sustainable Development has set the New deal for nature and People Coalition made up of over 500 youth organisations and networks operating across Africa working across the continent with the ultimate goal to reach the nature positive vision. Under the leadership of African network of Young Leaders for Peace and Sustainable Development the New Deal for Nature and People Coalition, African youths and civil society organizations have drafted and started the implementation of two regional position papers on COVID19 and pandemics and towards a strong post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework for a green growth resumption in Africa and in the world. Among key recommendations formulated by youths and civil society, we can highlight:

1. Strengthen multilateralism: Develop a whole -of-society coordinated approach and accelerate implementation of the “New Way of Working” mobilizing all the stakeholders and taking into account all the layers and sectors (that no one is left behind) in the implementation of innovative measures at different levels
2. Ensure continued access to people in need in line with humanitarian principles and recommit to Disaster Risk Reduction to build Back Better
3. Increase funding to Children, Youth, and Civil Society Organizations/NGOs and adapt funding mechanisms to maximize flexible COVID-19 responses
4. Keep gender and vulnerable groups front and centre: Support to a youth, women and indigenous group led, localized response to COVID-19.
5. Strengthen investment and the implementation of One Health and EcoHeath trough policy frameworks and initiatives aiming to restore ecosystem integrity indispensable for human health and development and to prevent and mitigate future pandemics
6. Strengthen partnerships for food security and agriculture monitoring and assessment for evidence-based programming while increasing critical humanitarian food and livelihood assistance to the most vulnerable
7. Accelerate and enlarge the contribution worldwide of sustainable energy strategies, technologies, and applications for the purpose of achieving a sustainable quality of life for all
8. Durably implement the UN Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire – Disinvest in nuclear and military weapons to invest in sustainable development goals for present and next generation.
9. Mainstreaming young people-championed elements from a gender perspective in the Post-2020 Framework focusing on intergenerational equity, human rights and the rights of nature, transformative education and the promotion of nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.
10. Develop an effective and robust mechanism of the Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework based on transparency, accountability monitoring and reporting.
11. Enable more synergies and alignment between the Post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework with other biodiversity-related multilateral agreements, processes and instruments (UNCCD, UNFCC; Ramsar; Future BBNJ, CITES…) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development so as to enable the Post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework systematically cross-maps its goals and targets and seeks to reinforce synergies in implementation and enabling conditions
12. Greening the financial sector (economics of biodiversity) – integrating environmental issues to support the post 2020 implementation framework and enabling conditions for resilience and transformative change
13. High level leadership and a whole-of-government approach mobilizing all the layers of the society including private sector and civil society.

In order to strengthen the implementation of the above recommendations and mobilize a greater number of stakeholders towards the nature positive vision, African Network of Young Leaders for Peace and Sustainable Development launches the New Deal For Nature and People Television (ND4NP-TV).

Vision of the ND4NP-TV

By 2030, by contributing to the realization of the United Nations vision and the sustainable development agenda through the New Deal for Nature and People, African States have a growing economy and abundant biodiversity in a secure, democratic, peaceful space respectful of human rights for the well-being of populations thanks to the strengthened capacities of actors, stakeholders, communities and concerted and participatory management”.

Overall objective of the ND4NP-TV

Contribute to strengthened multi-stakeholder participation and involvement (including youth) in achieving the sustainable development goals in this UN restoration decade by reducing ignorance over the 2030 agenda and increasing commitment towards the New Deal For Nature and People vision.

Specific objectives of the ND4NP-TV

• Improve the understanding of the populations on the New Deal for Nature and People and the objectives of sustainable development;
• Raise public awareness on the New Deal for Nature and People and the sustainable development agenda;
• Raise public awareness of the importance of their civic and voluntary engagement in promoting the New Deal for Nature and People and the sustainable development agenda;
• Provide a televised platform for exchange, sharing, analysis and advocacy on national and international issues / challenges relating to peace and sustainable development;
• Promote local initiatives that contribute to the achievement of sustainable development objectives through the New Deal for Nature and People mechanisms.
• Highlight bad practices for achieving the New Deal for Nature and People’ vision and the sustainable development goals.

Expected starting period: July 15, 2021