The UN Nature Summit, COP15, begins in earnest on Wednesday, in the Canadian city of Montreal. Tonight, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres will address the world and delegates.
– Nature is mankind’s best friend. Without nature we have nothing. Without nature, we are nothing. It is nature that gives us life, Guterres begins, before saying that “we are waging a war against nature”.
– This conference is about the important task of creating a war with nature. Because today we live in disharmony with it, says the secretary general.
– Destroys the world at a huge rate
Sickness, death and starvation
Leading up to the summit, there was a slew of grim news. In this way, the world’s animal populations have fallen by 69% since 1970. That 75% of the earth is affected by humans, the oceans are overexploited, full of plastic and are becoming increasingly acidic.
– We treat nature like a toilet. And finally, indirectly we commit suicide. Because the loss of nature and biodiversity will come at a terrible human cost, Guterres says.
It refers to job loss, starvation, disease and death. If world leaders do not take drastic measures to improve the health of the earth, the UN has calculated that the destruction of the ecosystem will lead to annual losses of as much as three trillion dollars.
– We measure this in higher prices for water, food and energy, Guterres explains.
The climate crisis: – Collective action or suicide
Orgy of destruction
Just as with the climate crisis, the nature and biodiversity crisis also means that it will be those who have polluted and destroyed the least – the world’s poor – who will suffer the most.
– But they’re never the last, warns Guterres and urges nature summit attendees to work hard to stop what he calls “an orgy of destruction.”
– No excuses. No referrals. Promises made must be promises kept. It’s time to make peace with nature, says the Secretary General.
Before giving three tips:
- All countries must come up with ambitious plans, across all sectors and ministries, to save nature, find green solutions, reduce plastics, protect nature…
- Businesses must work together with authorities on the same goal and recognize that profit and nature conservation are linked.
- The rich countries (which have polluted the most) have to give much more to the poor countries of the world so that they can take care of their nature. So that short-term profit doesn’t come first, as is done in the West.
– It’s time to give back, says the secretary general.
SAVE THE PLANET: This little girl has a clear message for world leaders, who are gathering in Montreal to save nature. Photo: NTB
sea View
Livelihoods at risk
WWF World Wildlife Fund Senior Biodiversity Advisor Sverre Lundemo is in Montreal.
– The Secretary-General of the United Nations describes the reality we find ourselves in and which people around the world are aware of, but which so many heads of state struggle to accept: Our livelihoods are in danger, Lundemo tells Dagbladet before to continue:
– Guterres rightly points out that we treat nature like a toilet, where our bottomless zeal for short-term economic growth puts our own lives at risk.
If the world’s population doesn’t change the way we use nature, the planet won’t be able to feed a growing population, Lundemo adds. He is confident for the next two weeks:
– COP15 offers us a unique opportunity to repair our broken relationship with nature – an opportunity we cannot miss. Now the countries of the world must implement a strong and ambitious nature deal that will halt and reverse the dramatic development we are witnessing.
The Nature Summit takes place in Montreal from December 7-19.
The goal is to reach an agreement on the international nature, which should be as important as the Paris climate agreement should be.
- Dagbladet will be in Montreal for the latter part of the summit.
