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
Araghchi to Grossi: These parties will bear responsibility for the consequences of their actions
Araghchi to Grossi: Iran will respond to any unlawful action by European countries or parties attempting to turn the Agency into a tool for achieving their objectives
Araghchi to Grossi: We urge the Agency to warn against the consequences of any political move against Iran
Araghchi to Grossi: We call on the Agency to highlight Iran’s full cooperation during the upcoming Board of Governors meeting next week
Araghchi to Grossi: We demand that the Agency reflect the facts in a manner that prevents certain parties from exploiting it to advance their political agendas
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi holds a phone call with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi
Trump envoy Witkoff has sent 'detailed and acceptable proposal' to Iran for nuclear deal; it's in their best interest to accept it: White House Press Secretary Leavitt
Hamas official says Witkoff's position toward group was 'unfair' and shows 'complete bias' to 'Israel'
Hamas official says it has considered Witkoff's proposal acceptable for negotiations, says 'Israel's' response was incompatible with what the group agreed on
Hamas official says group has not rejected Wikoff's proposal for Gaza ceasefire

Global 'peace pact' inked to protect nature

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 19 Dec 2022 23:31
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

By 2030, the agreement promises to safeguard 30% of the planet as a protected area and stop threatened species' extinctions due to human activity.

  • x
  • A sign of COP 15 biodiversity summit (EEAS)
    A sign of COP 15 biodiversity summit (EEAS)

Nations signed a historic agreement—hailed by the UN head as "a peace contract with nature”—to reverse decades of environmental degradation that have threatened the planet's species and ecosystems.

After the lengthy COP 15 biodiversity summit in Montreal went late into the night, chair Chinese Environment Minister Huang Runqiu announced that the agreement had been adopted and slammed his gavel, sparking loud applause.

"We are finally starting to forge a peace pact with nature," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, lauding the accord.

On her account, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said the deal was a "foundation for global action on biodiversity, complementing the Paris Agreement for Climate."

It is worth noting that more than 190 additional nations supported the Chinese-mediated agreement to protect Earth's lands, oceans, and animals from pollution, deterioration, and climate disaster after four years of contentious discussions.

What do you need to know?

By 2030, the agreement promises to safeguard 30% of the planet as a protected area, contribute $30 billion annually to conservation help for developing countries, and stop threatened species' extinctions due to human activity.

Although some complained that it did not go far enough, environmentalists have compared it to the historic plan to limit global warming to 1.5°C under the Paris Agreement.

Related News

'Israel' turns Gaza to rubble, planet Earth pays deadly carbon price

Glacier melt due to climate change could erase 40% globally

Brian O'Donnell of the Campaign for Nature described it as "the largest land and ocean conservation commitment in history."

Meanwhile, the CEO of campaign group Avaaz, Bert Wander, warned, "It's a significant step forward in the fight to protect life on Earth, but on its own, it won't be enough. Governments should listen to what science is saying and rapidly scale up the ambition to protect half the Earth by 2030."

The Rights of Indigenous Peoples 

The text also makes a commitment to uphold Indigenous people's rights to act as stewards of their lands, which is a crucial demand of campaigners.

Along with saving hundreds of billions of dollars by eliminating ecologically harmful farming subsidies, lowering the danger from pesticides, and combating invasive species, the accord's 23 goals also include reducing the use of pesticides.

More funds

The Global North had been asked to establish a new, larger aid fund for developing nations. However, the proposed language offered an alternative compromise: establishing a fund within the already-existing Global Environment Facility (GEF).

Estimates place the annual cash flows for nature to the developing countries at around $10 billion.

Due to opposition from Republican senators, the United States has not ratified the biodiversity convention.

Simultaneously, the United States praised the deal agreed upon in Montreal as a "turning point" and expressed gratitude for China's contribution.

"The global biodiversity framework is the turning point we think we need to combat the biodiversity crisis," State Department Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters.

Price said that "we appreciate" the diplomacy both of China -- the leader of the conference which announced a deal in the early hours Monday -- as well as host country Canada.

"We certainly hope that this spells deeper cooperation with the PRC on shared challenges," Price said, in reference to the People's Republic of China.

  • peace pact
  • China
  • US
  • Climate change
  • indigenous people

Most Read

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump tensions

US judges quietly consider private security amid Trump pressures

  • US & Canada
  • 25 May 2025
President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrive to a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington (AP)

Rift widens: Trump, Netanyahu clash in heated phone call over Iran

  • Politics
  • 26 May 2025
An Israeli army vehicle moves in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern occupied Palestine, Thursday, May 29, 2025 (AP)

Hamas rejects Witkoff ceasefire plan, says alters terms

  • Politics
  • 29 May 2025
Spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announces a new operation against Ben Gurion Airport on May 29, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen announces successful hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion

  • Politics
  • 30 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
MIT bans class president who gave pro-Palestine speech
US & Canada

MIT bans class president over pro-Palestine speech

Arab ministers condemn Israel 'ban' on planned West Bank visit
Politics

Arab ministers condemn Israeli ban on planned West Bank visit

Major General Hu Gangfeng, Vice President, National Defense University, People's Liberation Army, China, leaves after a panel discussion during the 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore, Saturday, May 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)
Politics

China blasts Hegseth, calls US top 'troublemaker' in Asia-Pacific

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: Reports
Technology

US activists demand shutdown of Musk's 'dirty' supercomputer: NBC News

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