Environmental analysis news: Japan outlines biodiversity targets

A draft national strategy for the conservation and improvement of biodiversity has been unveiled by the Japanese government.

According to Kyodo News, the country's environment ministry has endorsed the plans, which include a number of goals for the next three decades.

By 2020, the strategy would see Japan "make efforts to prevent existing biological species from facing new threats of extinction" and by 2050 "further enrich biodiversity in the country compared with current levels", as well as other targets.

It is expected to be approved by the cabinet later this month and could inform the nation's stance on the issue at the 10th session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya in October.

The news follows Japan's pledge at the end of last year to provide $10 billion (£6.6 billion) to developing nations over the course of three years to help them tackle climate change.

Written by Joseph Hutton