This is ahead of a critical meeting scheduled later this year in China, where delegates could sign an international agreement.
Two-week-long meeting between 195 countries, but not the United States, that was held Tuesday concluded with the goal of reaching a compromise to preserve biodiversity and prevent the extinctions of many endangered species. It also addresses the threat posed by pathogens such as the coronavirus which can cause serious economic and human health problems.
The delegates agreed to hold an interim meeting, Nairobi in Kenya, in June, before a high level conference, COP15, in Kunming (China), at a later date.
Biodiversity is the key to our survival on this planet. It’s not a joke matter,” Francis Ogwal, co-chair of the meeting from Uganda. “Every day you live as an individual is on biodiversity.”
Ogwal spoke of the “close connection” between biodiversity, climate change and mobilization for it, saying that “every time governments talk about mobilizing for climate, they should also be doing the same thing for biodiversity.”
Some governments and advocacy groups are seeking a Kunming deal that would protect and conserve at minimum 30% of the world’s land and inland waters. This would help to stop habitat loss, overuse of nature by humans and businesses, and the rise of pathogens that thrive on environmental disruption.
Some were critical of the slow pace at which progress was made.
Li Shuo, senior policy advisor at Greenpeace East Asia, stated that “with so little time for Kunming parties have finally kicked off the can to the finish of the road.” Li said that China should develop a contingency plan in order to deliver a complex package of quality and ambition as president of COP15.
Campaign for Nature, based in the United States, pointed out a consensus around the 30% target. It also highlighted a growing awareness that Indigenous peoples and local communities should be better protected. It demanded that countries work harder to address the problem of declining biodiversity.
Brian O’Donnell, Campaign for Nature’s director said that “Unfortunately, negotiations in Geneva haven’t reflected the urgency needed to successfully face the crisis facing the natural world.” “Progress in the negotiations has been slow and the ambition for financing is woefully inadequate,” he said.
He stated that donor countries should set “far higher financing goals”
Repurposing and redirecting harmful subsidies that amount to $500 billion annually and can cause biodiversity damage has been a key issue. The China meeting will consider a draft proposal that would commit $700 million to sustaining and improving biodiversity.
