The World Conservation Summit in Canada is straight home

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The World Conservation Summit in Canada is straight home

The World Nature Summit is linked to the hope of reaching a global agreement on species conservation – similar to the Paris Climate Protection Agreement.
Photo: Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press/AP/dpa

Montreal For more than a week, participants of the World Conservation Summit in Canada have been struggling to reach an agreement. Among other things, it aims to prevent the extinction of many animal and plant species. The summit is now entering its final phase – with an uncertain outcome.

Negotiations at the World Conservation Summit in Canada are entering the domestic phase. Before the end of Monday’s meeting, China’s head of state and party leader, Xi Jinping, once again called for a consensus on better species conservation. “We must build a global consensus on protecting biodiversity,” Xi said via video link. Ambitions should be converted into action. Developing countries should also be assisted in building their capacity to protect the species.

Most of the participating states are now represented at the ministerial level at the meeting in Montreal, which is due to run until Monday. Environment Minister Steffi Lemke (Greens) traveled from Germany. In the texts of a possible agreement, several points are still as unresolved. However, the German delegation said: “We are optimistic that the world community will agree to halt and reverse the trend of biodiversity loss in Montreal.”

Can a Global Agreement to Protect Species Succeed?

Organizers, scientists and representatives of non-governmental organizations hope that the summit will result in a global agreement on the conservation of species – similar to the Paris Climate Protection Agreement. One of the main goals is to protect at least 30 percent of the world’s land and sea areas by 2030. However, there is doubt as to whether such an agreement would be successful – mainly because of differences in financing. A group of developing and emerging countries, led by Brazil, even temporarily withdrew from the talks in protest.