UN summit on biodiversity threat

How are we going to protect and save our biodiversity? That is what bright minds from all over the world are considering at the UN Biodiversity conference (COP15) in Montreal. In the Netherlands alone, production and consumption damage biodiversity to the tune of almost 40 billion euros. Will an ambitious plan get off the ground or will the summit founder on empty promises? 

To Montreal

Food scientist Evi Vet (25) and UN representative Wouter Ubbink (25) are sure: they left for Montreal to see the UN summit with their own eyes. To Wed they tell why they are travelling to Canada. You can find several concerned posts online. It's no coincidence that ABN Amro and Impact Institute (Co-founder Minister of the New Economy Michel Scholte) have announced their research Publishing just before COP15. "Unsustainable land use, greenhouse gas emissions and air and water pollution cause billions in damage."  

Hidden impact

Much of the damage we do not see; the hidden impact of products we consume is often difficult to trace. For example, 70 per cent of damage occurs through trading partners abroad. Solutions exist - such as transparent chain cooperation and true pricing - but these are still only used to a small extent. 

A major decline in biodiversity is not only disastrous for nature; our economy also depends on natural ecosystems. More than half of the global economy! "At the same time, one million species of plants, animals and micro-organisms are threatened with extinction and wildlife populations have shrunk by an average of 69% per cent in five decades," reads the Living Planet Report. 

The opening

This week, at the 15th World Summit, governments from around the world are coming together to agree on a new set of targets. "Broad-based" action will be taken to promote biodiversity so that we live in harmony with nature by 2050. 

Retrieved from 6 December 2022  Dutch time 3pm The UN Biodiversity conference will open. You can attend via this link watch the opening live. The summit is scheduled to end on 19 December. Do you dare predict the outcome?