What is COP15? Why it matters and what’s at stake at the Montreal summit | CBC News

Hundreds of delegates representing 192 international locations will spend the subsequent two weeks in Montreal, hammering out a once-in-a-decade settlement that can purpose to construct a extra sustainable relationship between people and nature.

The UN biodiversity summit, generally known as COP15, formally kicks off Dec. 7 in Montreal. If all goes in line with plan, the convention will produce a brand new settlement outlining world biodiversity targets for the subsequent 10 years.

The convention is meant to wrap up on Dec. 19, however negotiations could run into additional time. 

This is what it’s good to know.

What is the distinction between COP15 and COP27? 

COP, in United Nations jargon, merely means Convention of Events. It’s a decision-making physique made up of nations which have signed a conference. 

COP15 is completely different from the local weather change summit, COP27, which was just lately held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. That convention was beneath the umbrella of the United Nations Framework Conference on Local weather Change. 

The Montreal summit, COP15, is a gathering beneath the Conference on Organic Range. In 1992, 150 authorities leaders first signed that conference on the Rio Earth Summit.

Whereas biodiversity and local weather change are associated points, the 2 conventions are separate. 

This assembly marks the second a part of COP15, typically known as the Nature COP or the UN biodiversity summit. The primary half was held final yr as a largely digital convention primarily based in Kunming, China. 

Although it is being hosted in Montreal, the summit is chaired beneath the presidency of China. 

Why must you care? 

The biodiversity summit is an enormous deal, as a result of it is more likely to lead to a brand new framework or settlement, outlining targets for a way the world ought to shield nature and use it extra sustainably and equitably. 

“The meals we eat comes from biodiversity, the water we drink comes from biodiversity. The air we breathe [comes from biodiversity],” mentioned Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, government secretary of the Conference on Organic Range.

The last word aim is to cease biodiversity loss and construct a sustainable relationship with nature in response to unprecedented charges of declining nature and species extinction.

Why do we want a brand new plan? 

The strain is on to create a brand new settlement with higher monitoring and financing inbuilt after international locations, together with Canada, failed to fulfill the 2020 targets of the final biodiversity plan, generally known as the Aichi targets.

Basile Van Havre helps to mediate negotiations as co-chair of the Conference on Organic Range’s Open-Ended Working Group for a Submit-2020 International Biodiversity Framework.

“The lesson from the Aichi system is that, once you put straightforward to know numerical targets, they get consideration,” he mentioned. “We have to put in place a way more sturdy system that allows progress to be measured as we go.”

A key aim of the previous Aichi plan was to preserve a minimum of 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas by 2020. 

The brand new goal beneath the draft settlement is the much-talked about 30 by 30 aim: preserving 30 per cent of land, freshwater and oceans by 2030. 

Canada has already dedicated to that pledge. The most recent figures present Canada has conserved 13.5 per cent of its land and freshwater and 13.9  per cent of marine territory. 

What are the important thing targets and challenges? 

The draft settlement remains to be plagued by gadgets that should be negotiated and finalized, however typically talking the important thing factors embody halting nature loss, stopping human-caused species extinction, decreasing air pollution, sustainable administration of agriculture and forestry industries and sharing the advantages of genetic assets pretty and equitably. 

There have been many calls from numerous environmental and Indigenous teams for the framework to additionally acknowledge the management of Indigenous communities as stewards of nature.

“The worldwide group, in seeking to shield 30 per cent of lands and waters, is in some methods catching as much as Indigenous ambitions of conservation,” mentioned Valérie Courtois, director of the Indigenous Management Initiative and a member of the Innu group of Mashteuiatsh, Quebec. 

“We perceive that our very survival relies on the well being of those landscapes … we all know that if we deal with the land, it’ll deal with us.” 

So far as sticking factors in negotiations, Van Havre mentioned there are three key ones: how formidable the plan needs to be, how will probably be financed and the way to make sure progress is measured and reported transparently.

“The negotiation shall be troublesome, little question. There’s a big change at play,” he mentioned. “However I’ve not seen anyone saying they do not need an settlement.”

Requested how doubtless he thinks there shall be an settlement by Dec. 19, he mentioned it is doable talks will go into additional time. 

“Will we be executed by 6 p.m. on the nineteenth? Perhaps not. Will I’ve granola bars in my pocket that day? Loads.” 

Who’s attending? 

A complete 15,723 folks, together with authorities representatives, NGO members and journalists, have registered to attend the UN biodiversity summit in particular person, although the precise quantity of people that present up could also be much less. 

Whereas the summit is being hosted in Montreal, it is chaired by China. The one head of state anticipated to attend is Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. China shall be represented by its minister of setting and COP 15 president Huang Runqiu.

Historically, world leaders don’t attend the biodiversity summits, however as an alternative ship ministerial representatives to negotiations.

Mrema mentioned state leaders needn’t attend, so long as they sign they’re dedicated to the method. 

“Hopefully on the finish of the day there shall be an settlement, a consensus … which is transformative and bold,” she mentioned.