The 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) will begin this Wednesday and will last until December 19 in Montreal, Canada, where it is expected that leaders from around the world debate and adopt new measures for the conservation of animal and plant speciess in the face of the crisis produced by human pressure and the climate change by 2030.
A delegation from the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development will participate in the discussions of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which, as legally binding international treatywill have as objectives promote the conservation of biological diversitythe sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits derived from the use of genetic resources.
In the opening speech prior to the negotiations of the Conference, held this Tuesday, andThe Secretary General of the UN, António Guterresassured that “without nature, we are nothing” and described humanity as “a weapon of mass extinction”.
Guterres targeted multinational corporations like who are “filling up bank accounts while emptying our world of its natural gifts” and warned that the degradation of the environment is due to problems ranging from the deforestation and desertification up to poisoning of the environment by chemicals and pesticides.
“The world is going through a profound crisis of biodiversity loss and the pressures causing its decline, unprecedented and all of human origin, are intensifying every day: the intensive exploitation of natural assets, production and consumption habits, climate change, among other drivers, accelerate the rates of extinction of species and devastate entire ecosystems,” he said. Ana Di Pangracio, Deputy Executive Director of the Environment and Natural Resources Foundation (FARN).
As reported by that NGO, about 25% of the species of animal and plant groups are threatenedsuggesting that around 1 million species are already facing extinction.
In turn, andl 75% of the earth’s surface has suffered alterations considerable and the 66% of the ocean surface is experiencing increasing cumulative effects.
more than 85% from the known surface of wetlands were lost to the world, alerted from FARN.
The CBD COPwhich entered into force in December 1993 and it was fsigned or ratified by 196 countries except the United StatesI know meets every two years with countries participating in the convention to review progress in implementation, adopt work programs and provide guidance on policy measures.
This COP15 will have to adopt a new regulatory framework on biological diversity after the The strategic plan that was in force for the 2011-2020 period expired.
As the specialists explained, the goals that were set more than a decade ago were far from being met, so now new aspirations must be established at the global level that will serve as a framework for action at the local, national, and regional levels.
“Many of the tools provided by the regulation were not used or properly complemented due to the deficiencies of public managers and the lack of financing,” commented Di Pangrácio.
This event will convene governments from around the world to agree on a new global framework for the conservation, responsible use and restoration of biological diversity by 2030.
Argentinawhich has great biodiversity in its different ecoregions, is mainly affected by deforestation and the continuous degradation and destruction of wetlands.
According to the United Nations and the Global Forest Watch platform, the most affected area is the Chaco region.
