NAGOYA, Japan, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Tackling biodiversity loss means integration across many policy areas, the European Union's top environmental official said at a U.N. conference in Japan.
U.N. talks under way in Nagoya, Japan, address the loss of plant and animal species with the aim of new protection targets for 2020.
Jo Leinen, chairman of the European Parliament's environment committee, said European member states must lead the way in tackling biodiversity loss.
He complained of a "big gap" in funding, saying the destruction of so-called natural capital represents about $70 billion in losses each year while investments in protecting habitats and species is only $4.2 billion.
Meanwhile, the international community is trying to find ways to establish new 2020 targets for species loss and 2050 targets for ecosystem renewal. With 2010 targets already off the mark, Leinen said policymakers needed a comprehensive approach to tackle the challenge.
"We have to integrate biodiversity in many policy areas, especially in agriculture, fisheries, forest policy and transport," he said in a statement. "Mainstreaming is the key to success."
