Ramblings of a 70-year old: biodiversity

Thursday, December 1, 2022

COP15, the December nature summit in Montreal, cautions about a human driven mass extinction looming ahead

Described as the lesser-known equivalent of the climate crisis, humans do have a “once-in-a-decade" chance to fix it. In other words, it is necessary to apply brakes to the destruction of life-sustaining ecosystems. It seems global wildlife populations have plummeted nearly 70 percent in just 50 years. The result is mindboggling – experts say an unprecedented one million species are now at risk of disappearing off the earth forever. International talks are coming up in Canada next week. Its aim would be to strike a global biodiversity treaty in order to apply brakes on the nature crisis. It could be similar to the historic Paris Agreement that tackled climate breakdown. Former French diplomat Laurence Tubiana, integral to the Paris deal, said protecting climate and life-sustaining nature are "inseparable challenges, but our global governance system has splintered them." A mass extinction looms – and we have a 'once-in-a-decade chance' to fix it. The December nature summit in Montreal proposes to reverse wildlife decline by 2030, as well as to protect 30 percent of land and sea. There would be a global biodiversity goal to "direct targets, laws, policies and funding at all levels and regions, much like the Paris Agreement has started doing for climate action.” That is what Ms Tubiana says.

Professor Alexandre Antonelli, director of science Kew Gardens explains – “The climate and nature crises are "intertwined." Biodiversity is absolutely critical to our lives and we losing it at an accelerating speed." Each country has its own interests and draws battle lines over things like pollution and cash. The previous global plan to stop species extinction and habitat destruction did not help and the world failed to achieve a single 2020 target. Professor Alexandre Antonelli cautions - "It is absolutely essential that we get it right this time." Otherwise, we may "reach a tipping point, after which it may be impossible or extremely hard to revert the loss of nature." The death of the Amazon rainforest is the best example. It regulates the world's climate and provides vital water to nearby industries and megacities. However, humans have chopped down nearly 18 percent of the forests. Once it reaches 25 percent, the rainforest will stop producing water and turn into a dry savannah. Instead of absorbing climate-heating carbon dioxide, the new ecosystem would begin to unleash it. Campaigner Ruth Davis cites a drought in Argentina in 2017-18, exacerbated by deforestation in the Amazon. It inflicted $4.6bn loss to the economy of one of the biggest agricultural producers in Latin America.

Saturday, August 27, 2022

Treaty to protect marine life on the high seas

There was no unity of thought on the subject of according protection to marine life on the high seas. Diplomats from around the world did meet but were unable to arrive at a consensus. The subject was about an agreement on a United Nations treaty meant to protect marine life on the high seas. The meetings went to a fifth round without any outcome and the U.N. headquarters in New York had to suspend the activities. These had been going on for two weeks and environmentalists had expected positive results that would go a long way to close a gap in international marine protection measures. There is no international treaty of the high seas and such a treaty is essential to grant protection to the biodiversity in two-thirds of the world's ocean. These are areas outside of national jurisdictions. Such a treaty would help protect marine lives. Nations Fail to Reach Deal on UN Treaty to Protect Sea Life. The global goal is to earmark 30 percent of ocean area as marine sanctuary.

The health of the ocean and climate change are interlinked. The oceans absorb most of the excess heat but the duration of these heat waves are getting longer and more frequent. Livelihood of people in the Caribbean depend on the health of the ocean. This is what Janine Felson, Belize's ambassador to the United Nations revealed. She said - “The ocean cannot afford further delay.” The talks centered on various aspects like how to share benefits from marine life, establish protected areas, prevent harm from human activity on the high seas and extend assistance to poor countries to acquire the skills and means for exploring the oceans. The failure to reach a deal was a disappointment for Greenpeace and others who had been campaigning but the talks will resume next year unless a special emergency session is called before the end of 2022. The goal is to protect at least 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030. In the words of U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Monica Medina - "We cannot let the tides and currents push us back. We must keep going.”