Wealthy nations have agreed to mobilise at least $200bn (£155bn) per year by 2030 to help developing countries conserve biodiversity.
The commitment was hammered out in Rome, Italy, at the resumed Cop16 talks, which broke down in Colombia last November. Agreed by the 196 states that signed up to the Convention on Biological Diversity (including Russia, but excluding the US), the deal was hailed a win for multilateralism in uncertain times.
“Negotiators from all countries … put their differences aside to forge a common path forward,” said Lin Li, senior director for global policy at WWF International. “What’s left now is an urgent need to mobilise funding … to ensure we reach the $200bn a year committed by 2030.”
An Lambrechts, head of Greenpeace’s Cop16 delegation, agreed. “It is now crucial that global north countries honour their commitments and translate today’s decisions into real funding to protect biodiversity.”
Despite the progress, many countries wanted to see greater ambition to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 – a target that looks likely to be missed.
Image: Carmel Arquelau
