COP15: countries approve historic agreement on biodiversity

The president of the COP15, China's Environment Minister, Huang Runqiu, announced the approval of the agreement in a plenary session that began in the early hours of Monday (19) in Montreal, Canada, and banged the gavel, a moment that was greatly applauded by the delegates who participate in the meeting.

Almost 200 countries approved, this Monday (19), a historic agreement to reverse decades of environmental destruction that threatens the world's species and ecosystems, at a UN summit meeting on the biodiversity.

Four years after the last agreement and after almost two weeks of intense and difficult negotiations, the members of the Convention on Biological Diversity approved a framework for action proposed by China, the country that presides over the meeting, with opposition only from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“The agreement is approved”, declared the Chinese Minister of the Environment, Huang Runqiu, when he gave the hammer in a plenary session that began in the early hours of the morning in Montreal, Canada. The announcement was met with much applause.

The Kunming-Montreal Agreement is a roadmap that aims to protect land and ocean, to prevent the mass extinction of species due to pollution accelerated

The text establishes the goal of protecting 30% of the planet by 2030 and the release of 30 billion dollars in annual aid for conservation efforts in developing countries.

Main objectives of the agreement

• 30% of the planet protected

“That, by 2030, at least 30% of land areas and continental, coastal and marine waters (…) are effectively conserved and managed”.

• International aid tripled

“At least US$20 billion annually by 2025, and at least US$30 billion annually by 2030”, that is, approximately double and triple current international aid for biodiversity.

• Restore 30% of degraded land

“By 2030, at least 30% of degraded areas of terrestrial, continental, coastal and marine ecosystems will be subject to effective restoration.”

• Reduce pesticides

“Reduce pollution risks and the negative impact of pollution from all sources, by 2030, to levels that do not harm biodiversity”.

(With AFP)

Read also

Draft COP15 agreement provides US$20 billion per year in aid to biodiversity

The United Nations (UN) proposes to increase financial aid to save nature to 20 billion dollars per year by 2025 and 30 billion by 2030, according to the draft agreement released this Sunday (18) in Montreal. It also encourages countries to “ensure and enable that by 2030 at least 30% of land areas, continental and coastal waters and marine areas” are conserved and managed effectively.

Another COP? Understand the importance of COP15 on biodiversity

After the Climate Summit in Egypt (COP27), the world turns to the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15), which takes place from December 7th to 19th in Montreal, Canada. Plans to protect the natural world and prevent its destruction will be discussed. O Curto explain!