- by Douglas Nadler
“Earth’s living systems as a whole are being compromised. And the more humanity exploits Nature in unsustainable ways and undermines its contributions to people, the more we undermine our own wellbeing, security and prosperity.” Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, executive secretary, UN Convention on Biological Diversity
After several attempts to hold the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in China, the decision was taken, due to continuing pandemic concerns in China, to move it to the city where the UN secretariat for the CBD is based—Montreal, Canada—from 5 to 17 December this year. There is no doubt that time is of the essence when dealing with biodiversity loss. The last ten years have brought a number of well-documented scientific papers and books concluding that the world is facing an extinction catastrophe for myriad species of life. From such publications as the World Wide Fund for Nature’s Living Planet Report 2020 and the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List of Threatened Species, it has become clear that the living planet’s prospects are approaching free fall and that without immediate action the world’s ecological cohesiveness will be drastically diminished. Tens of trillions of dollars of the world’s economy rely directly on a robust Earth’s ability to function. It seems that most corporate and world government policies are inconsistent with this knowledge, and this, to say the least, is bizarre—and even criminal. The CBD Montreal gathering is a last chance to shake governments out of their torpor and get them to make their commitments—not aspirational goals—for the enhancement and preservation of Nature, and for those commitments to be ironclad. Tragically, the previous 14 CBD meetings and (just as importantly) the 26 COP climate meetings never got past insubstantial dreams to finally put in place protection for our climate or biodiversity. Not only have fossil fuel emissions risen over the last 30 years, but also we have seen the accelerating loss of biodiversity that has disproportionately been felt by poor nations.
The great biologist E.O. Wilson said that, ultimately, saving Nature will be decided by the strength of our ethics and not the accumulated scientific evidence that nevertheless helps underpin and contributes to a well-informed policy for Nature. Colonialism and capitalism must not be allowed the last word. Young people need to rise up to defend their future, and older generations must be steadfastly committed to its protection. The last word might come down to whether our love for Nature will save it. For many, that may mean re-evaluating long-held anti-Nature beliefs. After all, there is no dearth of books in libraries and bookshops on how to be closer to the Earth. Only when a corrupted western society learns to internalize pro-Nature values will governments heed the call to embrace a Nature-based ethics that sets an ecological framework in place of an unbridled infinite growth economy, and thereby abandon such an unconscionable economic way of life.
I am convinced that our educational objectives from kindergarten through university have perversely steered youth away from a closer affinity with our planet’s wellbeing. Compartmentalization has put knowledge into silos, as there are all too often separate departments for subjects that then close off the possibilities for solving many of our existential concerns. Very little has been done to create a holistic approach to incorporating all subjects under the aegis of ecological values.
The UN is asking countries to designate 30 percent of their land and sea areas for conservation by 2030. Only 17 percent of the Earth’s land and seven percent of the ocean currently fall under some form of protection. The Convention on Biological Diversity was opened for signatures at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. The United States is the only UN member state to hold out against ratifying the agreement, protesting that its economy would be curtailed by so doing. This has been shown to be absurd nonsense. There is pressure on President Biden to get this accomplished, just as it was imperative that he bring back the US into UN climate negotiations.
The biodiversity summit in Montreal this year gives us an unparalleled opportunity to learn more about the critical importance of protecting Nature. Most major conventions take place thousands of kilometres away. I will be spending the next five months speaking to activists, academics, teachers, students, local government officials and parents about the summit and the need to support its vital efforts.
