‘Paris deal’ for nature is key for business too

THE world’s biodiversity crisis is “flashing red”, yet as representatives from nearly every country in the world gather this week in Montreal for the UN COP15 summit to tackle the issue, comprehensive agreement is far from sure.

COP15 is the 15th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, a treaty drafted in 1992 to protect the world’s rich tapestry of biodiversity. The event was originally set to happen in China in 2020, but postponed due to the pandemic. 

The meeting has been moved to Canada to avoid further delay, with China retaining the presidency. The first phase of the convention was held last year with ministers from more than 100 countries pledging to reach agreement on a global biodiversity framework, but falling short of commitment to specific targets.