Meeting to save animals, nature and the oceans – concrete plans are needed
In four years’ time, several key targets for the world’s wildlife and natural environment are due to be met – but progress is slow.
How to achieve the targets set out in the ‘Paris Agreement for Nature’ is the focus as the UN Conference on Biological Diversity convenes for the 17th time.
When the global framework for the Earth’s species and ecosystems was adopted at COP15 in December 2022, it was seen by many as a last chance to halt species extinction. At COP17 in Yerevan, Armenia, a global review was carried out for the first time of the steps countries have taken to achieve the target set out in the so-called Kunming–Montréal Framework.
Twenty-three targets are to be met by 2030, including protecting 30 per cent of land and sea areas and halving food waste. However, ahead of the first review, the majority of the targets appear to be out of reach.
Guidance for the future
Charlotta Sörqvist, who heads the Swedish negotiating delegation, says it is clear that more needs to be done.
´A very good outcome from this COP would be a decision providing clear guidance to countries on how we should proceed, perhaps highlighting certain targets where more needs to be done so that we can use this as a basis for continued implementation.´
Taking the initiative
An important part of the meeting, in addition to the negotiations taking place, is the partnerships and coalitions that emerge on the sidelines, where countries decide to work together.
´It’s about both making ambitious decisions within the negotiations and, outside the negotiating room, demonstrating a willingness to take the initiative, lead the way and show the path forward,´ says Ankin Ljungman.
´As far as Sweden is concerned, there will be no new partnerships at this year’s meeting,´ explains Charlotta Sörqvist.
´We do, after all, have a caretaker government, which means we are sticking to the established positions we have held during the preparatory work and, for example, are not joining any new coalitions or new initiatives.´
The UN summit on biodiversity is usually held every two years. This year, the summit is taking place in Yerevan, Armenia, from 19 to 30 October.
COP stands for Conference of the Parties and refers to the parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. The number indicates which meeting in the series it is.
In 2022, the Canadian city of Montréal hosted the event. The historic agreement reached there comprises 23 action targets and is known as the Kunming–Montréal GBF (Global Biodiversity Framework).
The addition of ‘Kunming’ stems from the fact that the Chinese city was originally due to host the meeting, a plan that was changed due to China’s COVID-19 restrictions at the time.
Source: TT
