What is Cop15?
Nature is in crisis and for the last three decades governments have been meeting to ensure the survival of the species and ecosystems that support human civilization. At the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992, three conventions were created: on climate change, desertification and biodiversity. The objective of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is for countries to conserve the natural world, use it sustainably and share the benefits of its genetic resources. The objectives have been achieved so far Every 10 years, governments agree new targets for biodiversity protection, which they aim to achieve by the end of the decade. The latest round of targets was agreed at Cop10 in Nagoya, Japan in 2010, when governments pledged to halve natural habitat loss and expand nature reserves to 17% of the world’s land area by 2020, among other goals. They failed on every metric (more on that below). Every two years or so there are “regular” meetings for governments to review their progress. The Montreal meeting, Cop15 (meaning conference of the parties meeting for the 15th time), is “emergency” because a new set of goals is agreed.
When, where and who is responsible?
The two-week conference begins on December 7 in Montreal, Canada, although China will chair Cop15, the first time it has done so for a top UN environmental accord. That’s because the summit was scheduled to take place in Kunming, China, but was moved after successive delays related to the pandemic and concerns about hosting an international summit as part of Beijing’s zero-Covid policy. Photo: UN Biodiversity Delegates will arrive in Montreal just weeks after the Cop27 climate in Egypt. The official text is expected to be signed on Saturday, December 17, the eve of the World Cup final in Qatar, although negotiations often run past the deadline.
How is it different from the climate cops?
Biodiversity cops are separate from climate cops, the most recent of which was Cop26 in Glasgow. Climate cops have a clear focus on limiting global temperature rise to “well below” 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, while aiming to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, as set out under the agreement Paris in 2015. At the moment, the UN biodiversity process does not have an equivalent north star. Governments will sign up to goals under the treaty’s three goals – conservation, sustainable use and benefit sharing of genetic resources – which can sometimes conflict with each other and are often too technical, even for those negotiating the agreement . Endangered species The summit’s final text – known as the post-2020 global biodiversity framework – is likely to include more than 20 targets ranging from commitments to crack down on invasive species to complex rules on the use of synthetic biology.
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth – the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat all rely on it. Scientists are still trying to figure out how the web of life fits together, and despite advances in technology, we can still only guess at the true number of species living on our planet. But we know that life is not distributed equally: countries like Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia and China have incredible concentrations of plants, mammals, fungi and amphibians in their vast and unique ecosystems. A few hectares of Borneo rainforest or a coral reef can support more species than live in the whole of the UK, and humanity relies on the healthy functioning of large ecosystems to survive. Biodiversity is also the foundation of the global economy. More than half of the world’s GDP – equal to $41.7 trillion (£34.6 trillion) – depends on the healthy functioning of the natural world, according to insurance group Swiss Re. Graphs showing the decline of wildlife in different regions around the world
Why should we worry?
Earth is experiencing the greatest loss of life since the dinosaurs and humans are to blame. The way we mine, pollute, hunt, farm, build and travel puts at least one million species at risk of extinction, scientists say. The sixth mass extinction in geological history has already begun, some scientists argue, with billions of individual populations lost. Unlike climate changes, which could be reversible even if it takes thousands of years, extinctions and ecosystem destruction are permanent. In addition to supporting the health of ecosystems, biodiversity provides our basic needs. Human existence is based on having clean air, food and a habitable climate, all of which are regulated by the natural world. For example, 95% of the food we eat is produced in the soil, an ecosystem we know almost nothing about. However, up to 40% of the world’s land is severely degraded by unsustainable agricultural practices, according to the UN. Monarch butterflies are considered an “indicator species” for the health of the surrounding ecosystem. Photo: Sylvain Cordier/Getty Likewise, the extinction of animals, insects, plants and all living things has huge negative effects. Species must work together in harmony in order to thrive and provide the basic services humans need to survive. This is why biodiversity is so important. Life on Earth is like a giant web, and our actions cause its threads to unravel. We cannot afford to collapse.
Which species are in trouble?
We are seeing huge declines in wildlife around the world. According to scientists, insect numbers are plummeting, with some saying we are living through an ‘insect apocalypse’. more than 500 species of land animals are on the brink of extinction and may be gone within 20 years. One in five reptiles faces extinction. One in eight bird species are threatened. and 40% of the world’s plant species are endangered. Bar graph showing the impact of human activity on biodiversity The five biggest threats to biodiversity are changes in land and sea use. direct exploitation of natural resources; the climate crisis; pollution and invasive species. All wildlife is affected by human destruction. A 2018 report written by 59 scientists found that humans had wiped out 60% of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles since 1970, with the authors warning that we are “sleepwalking towards the edge of a cliff”. Even if the disaster ended now, it would take five to seven million years for the natural world to recover, the researchers warn.
What happened to the last nature policeman?
Governments have never met any of the targets they have set in the history of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. From tackling pollution to protecting coral reefs, the international community has not fully achieved any of the 20 Aichi biodiversity targets agreed at Cop10 in Japan in 2010. It was a similar story in the previous decade. However, much has changed since 2010 and the Paris Agreement, despite its flaws, has restored some faith in the UN’s environmental protection processes. There is still hope that Cop15 could be nature’s ‘Paris moment’.
How could Cop15 help stop biodiversity loss?
The 21 draft targets to be negotiated in Montreal include proposals to eliminate plastic pollution, cut pesticide use by two-thirds, halve the rate of invasive species imports and eliminate billions of pounds worth of environmentally harmful government subsidies. The goals also include reducing the current rate of extinction by 90%, enhancing the integrity of all ecosystems, valuing nature’s contribution to humanity, and providing the financial resources to achieve this vision. Lost animals
What are the big issues?
As with the climate talks, there are significant differences between the global north and south leading up to Cop15, and the rifts center on four big issues: money, 30×30 (target to protect 30% of land and sea by in 2030), target tracking and a series on digital sequence information related to biopiracy. Momentum has been built around a goal of protecting 30 percent of land and sea by the end of the decade, but concerns remain that the rights of indigenous peoples will not be protected. A Muduruku Indian woman carries a monkey on her head while prospecting for illegal gold mines in the western state of Para, Brazil. Photo: Lunae Parracho/Reuters World leaders such as Emmanuel Macron, Justin Trudeau and Ursula von der Leyen have made much of Cop15’s importance in halting biodiversity loss, but many developing countries say they need more money to expand protected areas and develop their economies in a less destructive way than their rich counterparts. Therefore, the global south does not want to agree to targets like 30×30, with strict monitoring requirements, without a trade-off. A row over how countries are compensated for drug discoveries and other commercial projects that use digital versions is also a sticking point, with Africa Group warning that it will not sign anything unless there is an agreement on digital sequence information ( DSI) in the final structure.
What do we hope for?
A positive final deal that will be ambitious enough to stop the decline of nature, but modest enough to make the goals achievable. There are plenty of quick wins available – eradicating invasive species on islands, pollution crackdowns, money for restoration efforts – but ultimately they will depend on the will of heads of state. Cop15 will be the moment to turn rhetoric into action and become a key part of the UN’s wider ambition for people to live in harmony with nature by 2050. Find more age than…
title: “What Is Cop15 And Why Does It Matter To All Life On Earth Biodiversity Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-17” author: “Leslie Smith”
What is Cop15?
Nature is in crisis and for the last three decades governments have been meeting to ensure the survival of the species and ecosystems that support human civilization. At the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992, three conventions were created: on climate change, desertification and biodiversity. The objective of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is for countries to conserve the natural world, use it sustainably and share the benefits of its genetic resources. The objectives have been achieved so far Every 10 years, governments agree new targets for biodiversity protection, which they aim to achieve by the end of the decade. The latest round of targets was agreed at Cop10 in Nagoya, Japan in 2010, when governments pledged to halve natural habitat loss and expand nature reserves to 17% of the world’s land area by 2020, among other goals. They failed on every metric (more on that below). Every two years or so there are “regular” meetings for governments to review their progress. The Montreal meeting, Cop15 (meaning conference of the parties meeting for the 15th time), is “emergency” because a new set of goals is agreed.
When, where and who is responsible?
The two-week conference begins on December 7 in Montreal, Canada, although China will chair Cop15, the first time it has done so for a top UN environmental accord. That’s because the summit was scheduled to take place in Kunming, China, but was moved after successive delays related to the pandemic and concerns about hosting an international summit as part of Beijing’s zero-Covid policy. Photo: UN Biodiversity Delegates will arrive in Montreal just weeks after the Cop27 climate in Egypt. The official text is expected to be signed on Saturday, December 17, the eve of the World Cup final in Qatar, although negotiations often run past the deadline.
How is it different from the climate cops?
Biodiversity cops are separate from climate cops, the most recent of which was Cop26 in Glasgow. Climate cops have a clear focus on limiting global temperature rise to “well below” 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, while aiming to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, as set out under the agreement Paris in 2015. At the moment, the UN biodiversity process does not have an equivalent north star. Governments will sign up to goals under the treaty’s three goals – conservation, sustainable use and benefit sharing of genetic resources – which can sometimes conflict with each other and are often too technical, even for those negotiating the agreement . Endangered species The summit’s final text – known as the post-2020 global biodiversity framework – is likely to include more than 20 targets ranging from commitments to crack down on invasive species to complex rules on the use of synthetic biology.
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth – the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat all rely on it. Scientists are still trying to figure out how the web of life fits together, and despite advances in technology, we can still only guess at the true number of species living on our planet. But we know that life is not distributed equally: countries like Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia and China have incredible concentrations of plants, mammals, fungi and amphibians in their vast and unique ecosystems. A few hectares of Borneo rainforest or a coral reef can support more species than live in the whole of the UK, and humanity relies on the healthy functioning of large ecosystems to survive. Biodiversity is also the foundation of the global economy. More than half of the world’s GDP – equal to $41.7 trillion (£34.6 trillion) – depends on the healthy functioning of the natural world, according to insurance group Swiss Re. Graphs showing the decline of wildlife in different regions around the world
Why should we worry?
Earth is experiencing the greatest loss of life since the dinosaurs and humans are to blame. The way we mine, pollute, hunt, farm, build and travel puts at least one million species at risk of extinction, scientists say. The sixth mass extinction in geological history has already begun, some scientists argue, with billions of individual populations lost. Unlike climate changes, which could be reversible even if it takes thousands of years, extinctions and ecosystem destruction are permanent. In addition to supporting the health of ecosystems, biodiversity provides our basic needs. Human existence is based on having clean air, food and a habitable climate, all of which are regulated by the natural world. For example, 95% of the food we eat is produced in the soil, an ecosystem we know almost nothing about. However, up to 40% of the world’s land is severely degraded by unsustainable agricultural practices, according to the UN. Monarch butterflies are considered an “indicator species” for the health of the surrounding ecosystem. Photo: Sylvain Cordier/Getty Likewise, the extinction of animals, insects, plants and all living things has huge negative effects. Species must work together in harmony in order to thrive and provide the basic services humans need to survive. This is why biodiversity is so important. Life on Earth is like a giant web, and our actions cause its threads to unravel. We cannot afford to collapse.
Which species are in trouble?
We are seeing huge declines in wildlife around the world. According to scientists, insect numbers are plummeting, with some saying we are living through an ‘insect apocalypse’. more than 500 species of land animals are on the brink of extinction and may be gone within 20 years. One in five reptiles faces extinction. One in eight bird species are threatened. and 40% of the world’s plant species are endangered. Bar graph showing the impact of human activity on biodiversity The five biggest threats to biodiversity are changes in land and sea use. direct exploitation of natural resources; the climate crisis; pollution and invasive species. All wildlife is affected by human destruction. A 2018 report written by 59 scientists found that humans had wiped out 60% of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles since 1970, with the authors warning that we are “sleepwalking towards the edge of a cliff”. Even if the disaster ended now, it would take five to seven million years for the natural world to recover, the researchers warn.
What happened to the last nature policeman?
Governments have never met any of the targets they have set in the history of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. From tackling pollution to protecting coral reefs, the international community has not fully achieved any of the 20 Aichi biodiversity targets agreed at Cop10 in Japan in 2010. It was a similar story in the previous decade. However, much has changed since 2010 and the Paris Agreement, despite its flaws, has restored some faith in the UN’s environmental protection processes. There is still hope that Cop15 could be nature’s ‘Paris moment’.
How could Cop15 help stop biodiversity loss?
The 21 draft targets to be negotiated in Montreal include proposals to eliminate plastic pollution, cut pesticide use by two-thirds, halve the rate of invasive species imports and eliminate billions of pounds worth of environmentally harmful government subsidies. The goals also include reducing the current rate of extinction by 90%, enhancing the integrity of all ecosystems, valuing nature’s contribution to humanity, and providing the financial resources to achieve this vision. Lost animals
What are the big issues?
As with the climate talks, there are significant differences between the global north and south leading up to Cop15, and the rifts center on four big issues: money, 30×30 (target to protect 30% of land and sea by in 2030), target tracking and a series on digital sequence information related to biopiracy. Momentum has been built around a goal of protecting 30 percent of land and sea by the end of the decade, but concerns remain that the rights of indigenous peoples will not be protected. A Muduruku Indian woman carries a monkey on her head while prospecting for illegal gold mines in the western state of Para, Brazil. Photo: Lunae Parracho/Reuters World leaders such as Emmanuel Macron, Justin Trudeau and Ursula von der Leyen have made much of Cop15’s importance in halting biodiversity loss, but many developing countries say they need more money to expand protected areas and develop their economies in a less destructive way than their rich counterparts. Therefore, the global south does not want to agree to targets like 30×30, with strict monitoring requirements, without a trade-off. A row over how countries are compensated for drug discoveries and other commercial projects that use digital versions is also a sticking point, with Africa Group warning that it will not sign anything unless there is an agreement on digital sequence information ( DSI) in the final structure.
What do we hope for?
A positive final deal that will be ambitious enough to stop the decline of nature, but modest enough to make the goals achievable. There are plenty of quick wins available – eradicating invasive species on islands, pollution crackdowns, money for restoration efforts – but ultimately they will depend on the will of heads of state. Cop15 will be the moment to turn rhetoric into action and become a key part of the UN’s wider ambition for people to live in harmony with nature by 2050. Find more age than…
title: “What Is Cop15 And Why Does It Matter To All Life On Earth Biodiversity Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-30” author: “Liana Zaragoza”
What is Cop15?
Nature is in crisis and for the last three decades governments have been meeting to ensure the survival of the species and ecosystems that support human civilization. At the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992, three conventions were created: on climate change, desertification and biodiversity. The objective of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is for countries to conserve the natural world, use it sustainably and share the benefits of its genetic resources. The objectives have been achieved so far Every 10 years, governments agree new targets for biodiversity protection, which they aim to achieve by the end of the decade. The latest round of targets was agreed at Cop10 in Nagoya, Japan in 2010, when governments pledged to halve natural habitat loss and expand nature reserves to 17% of the world’s land area by 2020, among other goals. They failed on every metric (more on that below). Every two years or so there are “regular” meetings for governments to review their progress. The Montreal meeting, Cop15 (meaning conference of the parties meeting for the 15th time), is “emergency” because a new set of goals is agreed.
When, where and who is responsible?
The two-week conference begins on December 7 in Montreal, Canada, although China will chair Cop15, the first time it has done so for a top UN environmental accord. That’s because the summit was scheduled to take place in Kunming, China, but was moved after successive delays related to the pandemic and concerns about hosting an international summit as part of Beijing’s zero-Covid policy. Photo: UN Biodiversity Delegates will arrive in Montreal just weeks after the Cop27 climate in Egypt. The official text is expected to be signed on Saturday, December 17, the eve of the World Cup final in Qatar, although negotiations often run past the deadline.
How is it different from the climate cops?
Biodiversity cops are separate from climate cops, the most recent of which was Cop26 in Glasgow. Climate cops have a clear focus on limiting global temperature rise to “well below” 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, while aiming to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, as set out under the agreement Paris in 2015. At the moment, the UN biodiversity process does not have an equivalent north star. Governments will sign up to goals under the treaty’s three goals – conservation, sustainable use and benefit sharing of genetic resources – which can sometimes conflict with each other and are often too technical, even for those negotiating the agreement . Endangered species The summit’s final text – known as the post-2020 global biodiversity framework – is likely to include more than 20 targets ranging from commitments to crack down on invasive species to complex rules on the use of synthetic biology.
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth – the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat all rely on it. Scientists are still trying to figure out how the web of life fits together, and despite advances in technology, we can still only guess at the true number of species living on our planet. But we know that life is not distributed equally: countries like Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia and China have incredible concentrations of plants, mammals, fungi and amphibians in their vast and unique ecosystems. A few hectares of Borneo rainforest or a coral reef can support more species than live in the whole of the UK, and humanity relies on the healthy functioning of large ecosystems to survive. Biodiversity is also the foundation of the global economy. More than half of the world’s GDP – equal to $41.7 trillion (£34.6 trillion) – depends on the healthy functioning of the natural world, according to insurance group Swiss Re. Graphs showing the decline of wildlife in different regions around the world
Why should we worry?
Earth is experiencing the greatest loss of life since the dinosaurs and humans are to blame. The way we mine, pollute, hunt, farm, build and travel puts at least one million species at risk of extinction, scientists say. The sixth mass extinction in geological history has already begun, some scientists argue, with billions of individual populations lost. Unlike climate changes, which could be reversible even if it takes thousands of years, extinctions and ecosystem destruction are permanent. In addition to supporting the health of ecosystems, biodiversity provides our basic needs. Human existence is based on having clean air, food and a habitable climate, all of which are regulated by the natural world. For example, 95% of the food we eat is produced in the soil, an ecosystem we know almost nothing about. However, up to 40% of the world’s land is severely degraded by unsustainable agricultural practices, according to the UN. Monarch butterflies are considered an “indicator species” for the health of the surrounding ecosystem. Photo: Sylvain Cordier/Getty Likewise, the extinction of animals, insects, plants and all living things has huge negative effects. Species must work together in harmony in order to thrive and provide the basic services humans need to survive. This is why biodiversity is so important. Life on Earth is like a giant web, and our actions cause its threads to unravel. We cannot afford to collapse.
Which species are in trouble?
We are seeing huge declines in wildlife around the world. According to scientists, insect numbers are plummeting, with some saying we are living through an ‘insect apocalypse’. more than 500 species of land animals are on the brink of extinction and may be gone within 20 years. One in five reptiles faces extinction. One in eight bird species are threatened. and 40% of the world’s plant species are endangered. Bar graph showing the impact of human activity on biodiversity The five biggest threats to biodiversity are changes in land and sea use. direct exploitation of natural resources; the climate crisis; pollution and invasive species. All wildlife is affected by human destruction. A 2018 report written by 59 scientists found that humans had wiped out 60% of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles since 1970, with the authors warning that we are “sleepwalking towards the edge of a cliff”. Even if the disaster ended now, it would take five to seven million years for the natural world to recover, the researchers warn.
What happened to the last nature policeman?
Governments have never met any of the targets they have set in the history of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. From tackling pollution to protecting coral reefs, the international community has not fully achieved any of the 20 Aichi biodiversity targets agreed at Cop10 in Japan in 2010. It was a similar story in the previous decade. However, much has changed since 2010 and the Paris Agreement, despite its flaws, has restored some faith in the UN’s environmental protection processes. There is still hope that Cop15 could be nature’s ‘Paris moment’.
How could Cop15 help stop biodiversity loss?
The 21 draft targets to be negotiated in Montreal include proposals to eliminate plastic pollution, cut pesticide use by two-thirds, halve the rate of invasive species imports and eliminate billions of pounds worth of environmentally harmful government subsidies. The goals also include reducing the current rate of extinction by 90%, enhancing the integrity of all ecosystems, valuing nature’s contribution to humanity, and providing the financial resources to achieve this vision. Lost animals
What are the big issues?
As with the climate talks, there are significant differences between the global north and south leading up to Cop15, and the rifts center on four big issues: money, 30×30 (target to protect 30% of land and sea by in 2030), target tracking and a series on digital sequence information related to biopiracy. Momentum has been built around a goal of protecting 30 percent of land and sea by the end of the decade, but concerns remain that the rights of indigenous peoples will not be protected. A Muduruku Indian woman carries a monkey on her head while prospecting for illegal gold mines in the western state of Para, Brazil. Photo: Lunae Parracho/Reuters World leaders such as Emmanuel Macron, Justin Trudeau and Ursula von der Leyen have made much of Cop15’s importance in halting biodiversity loss, but many developing countries say they need more money to expand protected areas and develop their economies in a less destructive way than their rich counterparts. Therefore, the global south does not want to agree to targets like 30×30, with strict monitoring requirements, without a trade-off. A row over how countries are compensated for drug discoveries and other commercial projects that use digital versions is also a sticking point, with Africa Group warning that it will not sign anything unless there is an agreement on digital sequence information ( DSI) in the final structure.
What do we hope for?
A positive final deal that will be ambitious enough to stop the decline of nature, but modest enough to make the goals achievable. There are plenty of quick wins available – eradicating invasive species on islands, pollution crackdowns, money for restoration efforts – but ultimately they will depend on the will of heads of state. Cop15 will be the moment to turn rhetoric into action and become a key part of the UN’s wider ambition for people to live in harmony with nature by 2050. Find more age than…
title: “What Is Cop15 And Why Does It Matter To All Life On Earth Biodiversity Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-27” author: “Carol Silva”
What is Cop15?
Nature is in crisis and for the last three decades governments have been meeting to ensure the survival of the species and ecosystems that support human civilization. At the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992, three conventions were created: on climate change, desertification and biodiversity. The objective of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is for countries to conserve the natural world, use it sustainably and share the benefits of its genetic resources. The objectives have been achieved so far Every 10 years, governments agree new targets for biodiversity protection, which they aim to achieve by the end of the decade. The latest round of targets was agreed at Cop10 in Nagoya, Japan in 2010, when governments pledged to halve natural habitat loss and expand nature reserves to 17% of the world’s land area by 2020, among other goals. They failed on every metric (more on that below). Every two years or so there are “regular” meetings for governments to review their progress. The Montreal meeting, Cop15 (meaning conference of the parties meeting for the 15th time), is “emergency” because a new set of goals is agreed.
When, where and who is responsible?
The two-week conference begins on December 7 in Montreal, Canada, although China will chair Cop15, the first time it has done so for a top UN environmental accord. That’s because the summit was scheduled to take place in Kunming, China, but was moved after successive delays related to the pandemic and concerns about hosting an international summit as part of Beijing’s zero-Covid policy. Photo: UN Biodiversity Delegates will arrive in Montreal just weeks after the Cop27 climate in Egypt. The official text is expected to be signed on Saturday, December 17, the eve of the World Cup final in Qatar, although negotiations often run past the deadline.
How is it different from the climate cops?
Biodiversity cops are separate from climate cops, the most recent of which was Cop26 in Glasgow. Climate cops have a clear focus on limiting global temperature rise to “well below” 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, while aiming to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, as set out under the agreement Paris in 2015. At the moment, the UN biodiversity process does not have an equivalent north star. Governments will sign up to goals under the treaty’s three goals – conservation, sustainable use and benefit sharing of genetic resources – which can sometimes conflict with each other and are often too technical, even for those negotiating the agreement . Endangered species The summit’s final text – known as the post-2020 global biodiversity framework – is likely to include more than 20 targets ranging from commitments to crack down on invasive species to complex rules on the use of synthetic biology.
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth – the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat all rely on it. Scientists are still trying to figure out how the web of life fits together, and despite advances in technology, we can still only guess at the true number of species living on our planet. But we know that life is not distributed equally: countries like Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia and China have incredible concentrations of plants, mammals, fungi and amphibians in their vast and unique ecosystems. A few hectares of Borneo rainforest or a coral reef can support more species than live in the whole of the UK, and humanity relies on the healthy functioning of large ecosystems to survive. Biodiversity is also the foundation of the global economy. More than half of the world’s GDP – equal to $41.7 trillion (£34.6 trillion) – depends on the healthy functioning of the natural world, according to insurance group Swiss Re. Graphs showing the decline of wildlife in different regions around the world
Why should we worry?
Earth is experiencing the greatest loss of life since the dinosaurs and humans are to blame. The way we mine, pollute, hunt, farm, build and travel puts at least one million species at risk of extinction, scientists say. The sixth mass extinction in geological history has already begun, some scientists argue, with billions of individual populations lost. Unlike climate changes, which could be reversible even if it takes thousands of years, extinctions and ecosystem destruction are permanent. In addition to supporting the health of ecosystems, biodiversity provides our basic needs. Human existence is based on having clean air, food and a habitable climate, all of which are regulated by the natural world. For example, 95% of the food we eat is produced in the soil, an ecosystem we know almost nothing about. However, up to 40% of the world’s land is severely degraded by unsustainable agricultural practices, according to the UN. Monarch butterflies are considered an “indicator species” for the health of the surrounding ecosystem. Photo: Sylvain Cordier/Getty Likewise, the extinction of animals, insects, plants and all living things has huge negative effects. Species must work together in harmony in order to thrive and provide the basic services humans need to survive. This is why biodiversity is so important. Life on Earth is like a giant web, and our actions cause its threads to unravel. We cannot afford to collapse.
Which species are in trouble?
We are seeing huge declines in wildlife around the world. According to scientists, insect numbers are plummeting, with some saying we are living through an ‘insect apocalypse’. more than 500 species of land animals are on the brink of extinction and may be gone within 20 years. One in five reptiles faces extinction. One in eight bird species are threatened. and 40% of the world’s plant species are endangered. Bar graph showing the impact of human activity on biodiversity The five biggest threats to biodiversity are changes in land and sea use. direct exploitation of natural resources; the climate crisis; pollution and invasive species. All wildlife is affected by human destruction. A 2018 report written by 59 scientists found that humans had wiped out 60% of mammals, birds, fish and reptiles since 1970, with the authors warning that we are “sleepwalking towards the edge of a cliff”. Even if the disaster ended now, it would take five to seven million years for the natural world to recover, the researchers warn.
What happened to the last nature policeman?
Governments have never met any of the targets they have set in the history of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. From tackling pollution to protecting coral reefs, the international community has not fully achieved any of the 20 Aichi biodiversity targets agreed at Cop10 in Japan in 2010. It was a similar story in the previous decade. However, much has changed since 2010 and the Paris Agreement, despite its flaws, has restored some faith in the UN’s environmental protection processes. There is still hope that Cop15 could be nature’s ‘Paris moment’.
How could Cop15 help stop biodiversity loss?
The 21 draft targets to be negotiated in Montreal include proposals to eliminate plastic pollution, cut pesticide use by two-thirds, halve the rate of invasive species imports and eliminate billions of pounds worth of environmentally harmful government subsidies. The goals also include reducing the current rate of extinction by 90%, enhancing the integrity of all ecosystems, valuing nature’s contribution to humanity, and providing the financial resources to achieve this vision. Lost animals
What are the big issues?
As with the climate talks, there are significant differences between the global north and south leading up to Cop15, and the rifts center on four big issues: money, 30×30 (target to protect 30% of land and sea by in 2030), target tracking and a series on digital sequence information related to biopiracy. Momentum has been built around a goal of protecting 30 percent of land and sea by the end of the decade, but concerns remain that the rights of indigenous peoples will not be protected. A Muduruku Indian woman carries a monkey on her head while prospecting for illegal gold mines in the western state of Para, Brazil. Photo: Lunae Parracho/Reuters World leaders such as Emmanuel Macron, Justin Trudeau and Ursula von der Leyen have made much of Cop15’s importance in halting biodiversity loss, but many developing countries say they need more money to expand protected areas and develop their economies in a less destructive way than their rich counterparts. Therefore, the global south does not want to agree to targets like 30×30, with strict monitoring requirements, without a trade-off. A row over how countries are compensated for drug discoveries and other commercial projects that use digital versions is also a sticking point, with Africa Group warning that it will not sign anything unless there is an agreement on digital sequence information ( DSI) in the final structure.
What do we hope for?
A positive final deal that will be ambitious enough to stop the decline of nature, but modest enough to make the goals achievable. There are plenty of quick wins available – eradicating invasive species on islands, pollution crackdowns, money for restoration efforts – but ultimately they will depend on the will of heads of state. Cop15 will be the moment to turn rhetoric into action and become a key part of the UN’s wider ambition for people to live in harmony with nature by 2050. Find more age than…
