Agreement made to increase protection of biodiversity at COP15

At the United Nations Biodiversity Conference, COP 15, in Montreal, Canada world leaders signed a landmark agreement to protect biodiversity. Experts believe this agreement will put “world governments on the path to restore and save nature.” 

More than 190 countries took the pledge to combat the biodiversity crisis and protect 30 percent of the land and oceans. This is an increase from the current protection of 17 percent of land and 10 percent of oceans.

“We are finally starting to forge a peace pact with nature,” Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary General, said.

Under the agreement, the nations will “maintain, enhance, and restore struggling ecosystems, including working to stop species extinction and promote genetic diversity,” create a “sustainable use” of biodiversity within each nation’s plan, such as food, medicine and water, and ensure that the money will go to the needed conservative efforts, Causes.com reported.

While many think the agreement is a “major milestone” that will lead to “effective action,” others believe it falls short of being as impactful as the Paris agreement.

“I don’t believe we’ve had a Paris moment, but now more than ever we’re circling the Paris ring road. We need to give the framework a chance, hoping it is enough…to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030,” Dr. Abigail Entwistle of Fauna & Flora International said.

Scientists, who have “warned governments that they must protect the earth’s ecosystems if we hope to reverse the effects of climate change,” said the agreement gives them hope that “governments will start to take action to protect nature,” Causes.com reported.