UN biodiversity talks fail to agree on new targets to protect wildlife

Adam Vaughan is a writer.

A fortnight of negotiations to establish the draft of a new global deal reversing the loss of wildlife and habitats has ended in disappointment after countries failed to agree on any new biodiversity targets.

A group of 195 officials from 195 countries met in Switzerland to discuss a new mission and set of targets for the next five years. They failed to agree on any of the targets.

The UN biodiversity summit will now be delayed for a fourth time. New Scientist reported that it will take place late August. An extra negotiating meeting will be held in June to try and get a breakthrough on the deal. The countries have yet to agree on the deal, which is littered with square brackets.