Climate change and biodiversity loss are two of the greatest global threats to human well-being. An urgent and coordinated response is needed to avoid catastrophic impacts on the environment and the many benefits and services that humans derive from it.

This policy brief describes the interconnections between climate change and biodiversity. It highlights the importance of considering biodiversity within climate change policies, programmes and projects, and presents potential opportunities for doing so. The brief has been informed by a 2.5 year research and development project on biodiversity criteria for the design, selection and evaluation of climate change adaptation and natural carbon sinks/REDD+ projects in forests and wetlands
under the German International Climate Initiative (IKI). When developing such criteria and related safeguards for climate change policies, programmes and projects, consideration of social and environmental aspects is vital. This brief focuses on environmental issues.