Global Deal for Life on Earth Signed in Montreal
On December 18, 2022, 196 nations came together in Montreal and agreed to a new planetary deal for nature or “Global Biodiversity Framework.” These negotiations, attended by over 15,000 delegates from around the world, was called the UN Biodiversity Conference or COP 15. It was the culmination of several years of negotiations with a nearly three week, intense, often hotly contested finale. A participant in the preceding talks since early 2019, Rosalind has been there each step of the way, and joined observer delegations in Montreal both from the state of California and from the University of Cambridge Conservation Leadership Alumni Network (UCCLAN).
Biodiversity is at the heart of all other environmental — and ultimately social — issues, which makes this agreement and its successful future implementation core to progress on addressing climate, pollution, environmental and social justice, health, food and water security, governance, trade, resource exploration, equity, law, gender equality, and technological innovation. Because of this, the Global Biodiversity Framework is broad with the final agreement including four 2050 Goals and twenty-three 2030 Targets that span issues including protection of environmental human rights defenders, sustainable agriculture, plastics and chemical pollution, water quality, coastal protections, access to nature in urban areas, habitat and species protections, Indigenous peoples’ rights, better management of fisheries, and more. The agreement also includes a set of “Considerations” around social justice and equity issues.
Rosalind’s role at the talks was to advocate for the inclusion of ambitious language in the final agreement text, to meet with fellow observers and national “parties” to the treaty, and to support and engage as a team with fellow observers who were monitoring critical issues under negotiation. Rosalind also took a key role in coordinating the extended California delegation to COP 15.
Learn more about the final text of this critical agreement here.