The big climate talks were held in Egypt. A huge environmental summit is happening in Canada. It is also about a global crisis that threatens life on earth, but one that has not received as much attention. The variety of life on the planet is going to decline.
Don't stop reading because you're afraid. The 15th conference of the parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity could be the most significant global agreement to protect and restore nature in history.
That's what you'd imagine.
They could end up with a much less ambitious project.
Even if they fell apart, they would still be alive.
There are high stakes over the next few days in a convention center in Montreal. Check out the visual article about habitat loss.
The talks have a goal.
The goal is for a new 10-year agreement to stop and reverse the loss of flora and fauna. Negotiations are raging over the details of roughly 20 targets that would collectively tackle the problem.
The management of lands and oceans needs to be more sustainable. Areas are being restored. The rights of Indigenous people are being recognized. Helping animals recover. Ensuring that the trade of wild species is legal.
There are more to come. Reducing pollution, minimizing the impact of climate change and addressing subsidies that harm biodiversity are some of the things that can be done. That is still not all. It would be difficult.
The targets are supposed to be achieved by the year 2030. A plan to track progress is needed for that to happen. The deal that failed to meet any of its targets at the global level was largely due to the absence of such monitoring.
A small nation is making diplomatic moves. The nation of Vanuatu has a population of over 300,000 people. The president wants the International Court of Justice to weigh in on whether nations are legally bound to protect themselves against climate risks.
There is a transition to renewable energy. According to the International Energy Agency, there will be double the amount of renewable power in the world in the next five years. Coal is expected to be the biggest source of electricity generation by early 2025, according to the agency.
The Saudi plan. Despite the scientific consensus that the world must move away from fossil fuels to avoid the worst consequences of global warming, Saudi Arabia is using lobbying, research funding and diplomatic activity to keep oil at the center of the world economy.
Climate threats in the U.S. The effects of climate change are already far-reaching and worsening throughout the United States, posing risks to virtually every aspect of society. The United States has warmed more quickly than the rest of the world over the past 50 years.
There are brackets in the text that set apart terms that the parties have not agreed on. There are a lot of brackets. Carbon Brief has been following them since they decided to go on a deep dive. With just a few days left, a big question is whether they will be able to remove those brackets quickly.
Thirty percent of the planet's lands and oceans would be protected by the end of the century. Some people think the conference will rise or fall on this target, while others think it's using too much oxygen. The percentage is in brackets
Almost all the countries of the world are represented by delegates here. There are representatives from all over the world. And reporters. Thousands of people are in Montreal for the event.
It was less than half of the number that went to Egypt for the climate summit. The environment ministers are usually the highest-ranking officials here.
The advocates wanted heads of government to attend and bring their capital. They weren't successful.
The talks have been delayed due to the Pandemic. China has policies that make it hard to bring delegates from around the world together in person. Canada stepped in to host the talks and the two countries have been trying to reach an agreement.
The US plays an odd role. The United States is not a party to the talks because Republicans refused to approve the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Holy See is another one. Monica Medina is an assistant secretary of state who is also the special envoy for water resources.
Ruslan Strilets made it despite everything. He spoke about the damage that Russia has done to nature in his country.
What are the biggest disagreements?
Money is the main thing, although it is discussed using a term that is more polite.
The European Union has committed 7 billion euros to international financing over the next 10 years. Ambitious targets are also pushed by the bloc. The world's richest countries want to make sure they have the funds to fulfill their promises. Hundreds of billions of additional dollars could be required according to research.
Developing countries don't like the fact that there is a global fund. They want a new amount of money.
The countries of the global south walked out of a meeting. They say wealthy countries want to conserve natural resources in order to maximize their wealth. The EU is against a new fund.
The United States promised $600 million over the next four years to the Global Environment Facility, doubling its previous pledge. Ms. Medina said that a lot of it would go to nature.
Some attendees are calm despite the tensions. Others are not sure what to think.
There is still a lot of work to be done before the talks are over. They will be going into overtime.
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