19th December: COP15: Nations reach ‘historic’ deal to protect nature

A new deal to protect nature has been agreed at the UN biodiversity summit, COP 15.

The “historic” plan will put 30% of the planet under protection by the end of the decade.

There will also be targets for safeguarding vital ecosystems such as rainforests and wetlands.

The agreement was finalised in the early hours of Monday in Montreal, Canada.

The following points were agreed:

Maintaining, enhancing and restoring ecosystems, including halting species extinction and maintaining genetic diversity of populations of wild animals.
“Sustainable use” of biodiversity – essentially ensuring that species and habitats can provide the services they provide for humanity, such as food and clean water, without being destroyed.
Ensuring that the benefits of resources from nature, like medicines that come from plants, are shared fairly and equally and that indigenous peoples’ rights are protected.
Paying for and putting resources into biodiversity: Ensuring that money and conservation efforts get to where they are needed, particularly the poorest and most biodiverse countries.