Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two were martyred in an initial toll of the Israeli drone strike that targeted the al-Asira neighborhood in the city of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli drone strike targeted the al-Asira neighborhood east of Baalbek, eastern Lebanon
Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are the greatest resistance. Know that 'Israel' will fall because it embodies aggression, crime, and occupation; victory is truly yours
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: The value of what you are doing despite your wounds is immense, and here you are, treading the path of the Master of Nation's Martyrs and the leaders
Sheikh Qassem to the pager attack survivors: You are moving forward with insight deeper than sight itself. The enemy sought to eliminate your role in the battle, yet you remain steadfast and continue the fight
Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem to the pager attack survivors one year later: You are healing from your wounds and rising above them. You have successfully passed the test
Palestinian media: Reports of stabbing operation in occupied al-Quds.
Israeli media: Sirens blare in Arava in South, near Ramon Airport.
Egyptian PM Mostafa Madbouli: Egypt is targeted in plans to redraw regional map
AEOI Chief Mohammad Eslami: Our presence in IAEA General Council and fact-checking helped in preventing unilateral rhetoric that aims to portray Iran as an unregulated country

Activists take to Montreal streets demanding more action from COP15

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 11 Dec 2022 11:36
4 Min Read

The current text on biodiversity does not commit nations to increase action if targets are not met and instead "urges" them to consider a global review every 4 years.

  • x
  • COP15 in Montreal (La Presse)
    COP15 in Montreal (La Presse)

On the sidelines of the COP15 conference on the preservation of biodiversity, conservation groups expressed concern on Saturday as the conference shows no transparent mechanisms for implementing the targets, leading protesters to urge for more action. 

Guido Broekhoven, head of policy and research at the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), said, "Strong text that commits countries to review progress against global targets and ratchet up action over time is essential to hold governments accountable," adding that he felt "very worried" about the current state of negotiations.

Similarly, the last 10-year biodiversity deal known as the Aichi Biodiversity Targets adopted in 2010 in Japan was regarded as a failure for not being able to reach the targets and objectives set. 

'Protect Indigenous people first'

The Paris agreement of 2016 focused on adaptation, implementation strategies, and international cooperation, in the form of "nationally determined contributions" to combat global warming. 

The current text on biodiversity, on the other hand, does not commit countries to amp up action if targets are found to not be met and instead solely "urges" them to consider a global review every four years.

Aleksandar Rankovic, of the US nonprofit Avaaz, told AFP, "So what we have on the table is barely an encouragement to maybe do better," adding, "And there is no compliance mechanism being discussed that could help organize this necessary conversation between governments, on how they could cooperate better."

Related News

Turkey withdraws as COP16 host, UN looking for alternative

Peruvian lawmakers attempt to pass bill to unprotect Indigenous people

Read next: 89% of industry engagement in biodiversity are greenwashing: Report

The UNFCCC event taking place from December 7-19 gathers nearly 5,000 delegates from 193 countries to devise "a pact of peace with nature," in an attempt to preserve forests, oceans, habitats, and species.

A large majority of Indigenous Canadians joined in on the protests in the streets of Montreal as they donned costumes resembling birds, trees, and reindeer, which is a symbol of Canada's forests now threatened by climate change. 

"The people are trying to speak, trying to say you can't just talk, you have got to act," said Sheila Laursen, a member of the activist group Raging Grannies. 

Member of a tribe that calls the Ecuadoran Amazon home, Helena Gualinga, commented, "Let's not forget that... to protect biodiversity we need to protect Indigenous people first, Indigenous people are protecting biodiversity." 

'A bicycle without gears'

Li Shuo, global policy advisor of Asia at Greenpeace, told AFP, "If biodiversity targets are the compass, implementation is the actual vessel to take us there." 

According to Shuo, the negotiations are currently "missing critical elements" meant to mandate nations into increasing activity over time, as he describes the situation as "a bicycle without gears."

French think tank IDDRI researcher Juliette Landry expressed some hope that progress was made, noting that for the first time, common planning and reporting templates were adopted by the nations during this COP event. 

In light of the pressure arising from protests and activists, an additional meeting day next week was approved.

The EU is one of the largest perpetrators of biodiversity loss. A report from the European court of auditors done two years ago, which previously warned of the EU's failure to stop marine biodiversity loss and to restore fishing to sustainable levels in European waters, found that it has left 99% of continental waters unprotected from bottom trawling, industrial-scale extraction, and other “high-impact activities” with only 1% set up as “true” marine protected areas (MPAs) and only 10.8% of the surface of Europe’s seas had been designated as MPAs in 2017. 

  • cop15
  • United Nations
  • Montreal
  • biodiversity

Most Read

Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

American far-right activist Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

Lapid: Egypt’s Arab Force plan a 'severe blow' to normalization

  • Palestine
  • 14 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Britain Trained Israeli Soldiers Involved in Gaza War: Declassified
Europe

UK training of Israeli officers sparks outcry over Gaza war complicity

Luxembourg's Prime Minister Luc Frieden arrives for an EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Thursday, June 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Omar Havana)
Politics

Luxembourg to recognize Palestine at UN summit next week

European Union flags flap in the wind outside EU headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025 (AP)
Politics

EU exec. branch to adopt new sanctions against 'Israel' on Wednesday

Charlie Kirk killing suspect faces charges in Utah court hearing
US & Canada

Charlie Kirk murder suspect faces formal charges in Utah court hearing

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS