Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
License needed for work use Register

World Video | Defence | Foreign Affairs | Natural Events | Trade | NZ in World News | NZ National News Video | NZ Regional News | Search

 

COP15: Countries Call For Support Of 30x30 And Leaders Endorse Indigenous Rights But Finance Commitments Fall Short

At virtual kick-off of COP15, tepid pledges don’t match urgent need for global action on nature protection

At the much-anticipated virtual opening of the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Chinese President Xi, heads of state and ministers from around the world came together to stress the critical importance of conservation and the protection of Indigenous Peoples and local communities who safeguard nature.

The meeting, which will be followed by meetings in Geneva and Kunming, China next year, underlined growing ambition to change our relationship with nature. It indicated an urgency to agree upon a transformative global vision and commit the financial commitments necessary to champion the critical infrastructure, which are lagging behind.

The meeting, during which China took over the COP leadership, featured the following moments.

President Xi pledged $230 million to establish the Kunming Biodiversity Fund to support biodiversity protection in developing countries.

  • Governments stressed the critical importance of protecting at least 30% of the world’s lands and oceans in their comments, making “30x30” the most highlighted target by parties in the meeting. Countries included India, which recently joined the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, a group of more than 70 countries rallying for the inclusion of 30x30 in the final biodiversity treaty. 
     
  • The Kunming Declaration was adopted. The pact noted the growing support from countries for 30x30 and committed to increasing area based conservation, improving the effectiveness of protected and conserved areas, and recognizing the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. 
     
  • More than a dozen participants recognized the importance to achieving biodiversity outcomes of granting rights to Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

Upon this meeting’s conclusion, parties will reconvene in 2022 for further negotiations and to come to a final agreement on the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. 
 

Brian O’Donnell, Director, Campaign for Nature, said:

China’s $230 million funding pledge is a welcome step, but our hope is that this is only the beginning of China’s financial commitment as the world’s second-largest economy and the host nation for COP15. Wealthy nations will need to commit at least $80B per year to support developing countries, Indigenous peoples and local communities to safeguard nature. It is clear that transformative action and commitments are necessary and China is uniquely positioned to take the lead.

China has made great progress on nature protection within its borders--the country has indicated it is on course to protect nearly 30% of its lands. As the lead and host of the biodiversity talks, China has an important role to play in rallying global support for 30x30 land and ocean, a key component of the draft biodiversity treaty.

India recently joined more than 70 countries in the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People in a global effort to protect 30% of land and ocean by 2030.

Priorities for the COP included adoption of the 30x30 target, advancing the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and securing major new funding for nature conservation.

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
World Headlines

 
UN News: Aid Access Is Key Priority

Among the key issues facing diplomats is securing the release of a reported 199 Israeli hostages, seized during the Hamas raid. “History is watching,” says Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths. “This war was started by taking those hostages. Of course, there's a history between Palestinian people and the Israeli people, and I'm not denying any of that. But that act alone lit a fire, which can only be put out with the release of those hostages.” More


Save The Children: Four Earthquakes In a Week Leave Thousands Homeless

Families in western Afghanistan are reeling after a fourth earthquake hit Herat Province, crumbling buildings and forcing people to flee once again, with thousands now living in tents exposed to fierce winds and dust storms. The latest 6.3 magnitude earthquake hit 30 km outside of Herat on Sunday, shattering communities still reeling from strong and shallow aftershocks. More

UN News: Nowhere To Go In Gaza

UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said some 1.1M people would be expected to leave northern Gaza and that such a movement would be “impossible” without devastating humanitarian consequences and appeals for the order to be rescinded. The WHO joined the call for Israel to rescind the relocation order, which amounted to a “death sentence” for many. More


Access Now: Telecom Blackout In Gaza An Attack On Human Rights

By October 10, reports indicated that fixed-line internet, mobile data, SMS, telephone, and TV networks are all seriously compromised. With significant and increasing damage to the electrical grid, orders by the Israeli Ministry of Energy to stop supplying electricity and the last remaining power station now out of fuel, many are no longer able to charge devices that are essential to communicate and access information. More

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.