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Beware human rights abuses in name of conservation, warns indigenous activist – live Beware human rights abuses in name of conservation, warns indigenous activist – live
(32 minutes later)
Indigenous rights, the need for green Covid recovery plans and a Marshall plan for nature raised by leaders in summit’s opening remarksIndigenous rights, the need for green Covid recovery plans and a Marshall plan for nature raised by leaders in summit’s opening remarks
The meeting has technically adjourned for two hours but due to the quantity of world leaders that want to make a statement, the pre-recorded videos have continued.
We will bring you the most important news lines from speakers and analysis on what has been said so far.
The summit makes it clear conserving biodiversity improves human well-being. While this may be true on a macro scale, conservation can have real local costs and the tradeoffs are far from simple, says Prof Julia P G Jones, a conservation scientist from Bangor University in Wales. She says:
Those involved in the talks are aware of the challenges faced by countries trying to reconcile conservation and development. Jones argues that these challenges should be more explicitly acknowledged. “This would help the global conservation community move forward more positively post-2020,” she adds.
The pre-recorded statements from world leaders on nature to the summit have continued.
South African president Cyril Ramaphosa says the consumption of wild species and habitat loss are driving pandemics and biodiversity loss. He highlights the “complete interdependence between economic activity and human development. He calls for a change in consumption patterns and land management strategies, implementing sustainable and climate-friendly practises.
Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta says 2020 has given humanity a chance to get back on track with its relationship with nature. Kenya is one of a small number of mega-biodiverse countries, he says, and must make sure it is protected.
Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari refelects on the flora and fauna that are facing extinction in his country.
Brazilian foreign minister Ernesto Araújo – who has previously dismissed the climate crisis as a Marxist plot – had been listed to represent his country in the place of president Jair Bolsonaro but the South American leader will now speak. Governments will listen to what the Brazilian leader has to say with great interest as his stance on the environment could have a major sway over the final Kunming agreement.Brazilian foreign minister Ernesto Araújo – who has previously dismissed the climate crisis as a Marxist plot – had been listed to represent his country in the place of president Jair Bolsonaro but the South American leader will now speak. Governments will listen to what the Brazilian leader has to say with great interest as his stance on the environment could have a major sway over the final Kunming agreement.
Brazil has traditionally been a major player in UN environmental circles through its impressive diplomatic machine. But under Bolsonaro, the Amazon rainforest continues to burn and many fear Brazil’s leader is steering his country towards environmental ruin.Brazil has traditionally been a major player in UN environmental circles through its impressive diplomatic machine. But under Bolsonaro, the Amazon rainforest continues to burn and many fear Brazil’s leader is steering his country towards environmental ruin.
Last week the president hit back at the UN general assembly for a second year in a row about how the Amazon has been treated under his leadership, claiming Brazil was the target of a “brutal disinformation campaign”.Last week the president hit back at the UN general assembly for a second year in a row about how the Amazon has been treated under his leadership, claiming Brazil was the target of a “brutal disinformation campaign”.
Greenpeace has created ice sculptures of presidents Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro to expose the urgency of the nature crisis and the failure of both administrations to address the issue. Activists placed the sculptures on the pier facing the UN building where the meeting would have taken place.Greenpeace has created ice sculptures of presidents Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro to expose the urgency of the nature crisis and the failure of both administrations to address the issue. Activists placed the sculptures on the pier facing the UN building where the meeting would have taken place.
The message reads; “Faces of Extinction: Fuelling a planet in crisis”.The message reads; “Faces of Extinction: Fuelling a planet in crisis”.
“Trump and Bolsonaro administrations are the faces of extinction as they are pushing radical agendas that are destroying nature, driving biodiversity collapse and exacerbating the climate emergency,” said Arlo Hemphill, oceans campaigner at Greenpeace US.“Trump and Bolsonaro administrations are the faces of extinction as they are pushing radical agendas that are destroying nature, driving biodiversity collapse and exacerbating the climate emergency,” said Arlo Hemphill, oceans campaigner at Greenpeace US.
Jair Bolsonaro will address the summit shortly.Jair Bolsonaro will address the summit shortly.
The presidents of Colombia and Peru have just given statements to the summit. Both are major players in UN biodiversity circles and signatories to the Leaders’ Pledge on Nature, which over 70 governments and heads of state backed before today’s talks.The presidents of Colombia and Peru have just given statements to the summit. Both are major players in UN biodiversity circles and signatories to the Leaders’ Pledge on Nature, which over 70 governments and heads of state backed before today’s talks.
Colombian leader Iván Duque urges other countries to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030, embrace nature based solutions and make changes in the industries that have the biggest economic impact.Colombian leader Iván Duque urges other countries to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030, embrace nature based solutions and make changes in the industries that have the biggest economic impact.
“That is the challenge of our age,” he concludes.“That is the challenge of our age,” he concludes.
Peruvian president Martín Vizcarra Cornejo echos calls from other leaders for multilateralism and cites several local examples of how Peru has taken action to protect its biodiversity.Peruvian president Martín Vizcarra Cornejo echos calls from other leaders for multilateralism and cites several local examples of how Peru has taken action to protect its biodiversity.
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan makes a pointed remark about being at the “forefront” of fighting climate change, despite his country bearing “negligible responsibility for historical emissions”. He also says Turkey is working on a biodiversity “roadmap” to to 2050 without giving concrete promises about what landmarks will be involved. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan makes a pointed remark about being at the forefront of fighting climate change, despite his country bearing “negligible responsibility for historical emissions”. He also says Turkey is working on a biodiversity roadmap to to 2050 without giving concrete promises about what landmarks will be involved.
Polish president Andrzej Duda boasts about the country’s “centuries-old heritage of nature conservation”, saying the wealth of the country’s forests – which cover 40% of its landmass – have been “preserved and multiplied”. He says protection of biodiversity is “one of the biggest challenges for civilisation” and talks passionately about the size of the country’s bison population.Polish president Andrzej Duda boasts about the country’s “centuries-old heritage of nature conservation”, saying the wealth of the country’s forests – which cover 40% of its landmass – have been “preserved and multiplied”. He says protection of biodiversity is “one of the biggest challenges for civilisation” and talks passionately about the size of the country’s bison population.
Guardian columnist George Monbiot has written about the UN summit and the biodiversity pledges by world leaders.Guardian columnist George Monbiot has written about the UN summit and the biodiversity pledges by world leaders.
Read the full piece here.Read the full piece here.
French president Emmanuel Macron has given the pick of the early statements. He says that environmental agreements must be coherent. He cites the example of the European Union not signing a trade deal with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay - the bloc known as Mercosur - over fears it would cause more deforestation in the Amazon. He says that 2021 must be “a year of action”. French president Emmanuel Macron has given the pick of the early statements. He says that environmental agreements must be coherent. He cites the example of the European Union not signing a trade deal with Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay the bloc known as Mercosur over fears it would cause more deforestation in the Amazon. He says that 2021 must be “a year of action”.
Before that, Malawian president Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera spoke on behalf of the Least Developed Countries group. He expressed his dissatisfaction at the world’s failure to meet any of the previous decade’s biodiversity targets and called for more financial resources and technological support for conservation efforts.Before that, Malawian president Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera spoke on behalf of the Least Developed Countries group. He expressed his dissatisfaction at the world’s failure to meet any of the previous decade’s biodiversity targets and called for more financial resources and technological support for conservation efforts.
The president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed her commitment to the Kunming process. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, reaffirmed her commitment to the Kunming process.
Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is up next.Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is up next.
For all the talk about the importance of this summit, the secretary general António Guterres left because he had prior engagements. For all the talk about the importance of this summit, the secretary general António Guterres has left because of prior engagements.
More than 130 organisations including Friends of the Earth International, Survival International and Indigenous Environmental Network have signed a letter criticising the biodiversity summit for not representing communities who are most affected by the destruction of nature and who also play an important role in preserving it.More than 130 organisations including Friends of the Earth International, Survival International and Indigenous Environmental Network have signed a letter criticising the biodiversity summit for not representing communities who are most affected by the destruction of nature and who also play an important role in preserving it.
The letter, from the CBD Alliance, says indigenous people, local communities, women, youth, indigenous farming systems and small-scale food producers are not adequately represented at the summit. It criticises the UN for providing a a prominent role to corporations and financial actors who are responsible for biodiversity destruction.The letter, from the CBD Alliance, says indigenous people, local communities, women, youth, indigenous farming systems and small-scale food producers are not adequately represented at the summit. It criticises the UN for providing a a prominent role to corporations and financial actors who are responsible for biodiversity destruction.
The letter states:The letter states:
Statements by world leaders and governments have just started with the Guyanese president Mohamed Irfaan Ali.Statements by world leaders and governments have just started with the Guyanese president Mohamed Irfaan Ali.
The president of the 75th UN general assembly, Volkan Bozkır, tells the summit that world leaders have not stuck to the time limits on pre-recorded statements about biodiversity and as such, there won’t be time to play them all. The president of the 75th UN general assembly, Volkan Bozkır, tells the summit that world leaders have not stuck to the time limits on pre-recorded statements about biodiversity and, as such, there won’t be time to play them all.
We will bring you the highlights.We will bring you the highlights.
Protecting at least 30% of land and sea is the headline target of the draft Kunming agreement for the next decade’s biodiversity targets. But Indian indigenous youth activist Archana Soreng has warned that it could be the “biggest land grab in history”.Protecting at least 30% of land and sea is the headline target of the draft Kunming agreement for the next decade’s biodiversity targets. But Indian indigenous youth activist Archana Soreng has warned that it could be the “biggest land grab in history”.
Removing indigenous communities from their land to protect nature is “colonial and environmentally damaging”, the member of the Khadia tribe continues, warning that human rights could be abused en masse in the name of conservation if world leaders are not careful with how the implement protections.Removing indigenous communities from their land to protect nature is “colonial and environmentally damaging”, the member of the Khadia tribe continues, warning that human rights could be abused en masse in the name of conservation if world leaders are not careful with how the implement protections.
Here is an infographic of a recent study about increasing protected areas.Here is an infographic of a recent study about increasing protected areas.
Prince Charles is speaking as we get towards the end of the introduction, telling the summit he was immensely flattered to be invited. The Prince’s comments are focused on what he calls a “blue-green recovery”, talking of an urgent need to embrace circular economics with a Marshall plan for nature. Establishing functioning carbon markets, developing carbon capture and storage, and creating a market for ecosystem services are all key, he says.Prince Charles is speaking as we get towards the end of the introduction, telling the summit he was immensely flattered to be invited. The Prince’s comments are focused on what he calls a “blue-green recovery”, talking of an urgent need to embrace circular economics with a Marshall plan for nature. Establishing functioning carbon markets, developing carbon capture and storage, and creating a market for ecosystem services are all key, he says.
“We are at the last hour. We know what we need to do. Let’s get on with it,” the Prince concludes.“We are at the last hour. We know what we need to do. Let’s get on with it,” the Prince concludes.
Check out that bookcase.Check out that bookcase.