"Developing Nations Halt COP15 Talks After Biodiversity Fund Demand"

"MONTREAL - Delegates from dozens of developing nations walked out of crunch financing talks overnight at the U.N. COP15 biodiversity summit in Montreal, citing a lack of compromise from wealthy countries as negotiations intensify to agree a new global nature pact.

Several sources said representatives of about 70 countries - mostly African states but also including Argentina and Brazil - left the meeting at about 1 a.m. in protest over a perceived lack of progress on funding for nature protection efforts worldwide.

Most of these governments had earlier joined forces at COP15 to call for a new dedicated biodiversity fund, saying that "existing multilateral (funding) sources" are not up to the task of implementing any deal that is struck at the conference.

David Ainsworth, a spokesman for the U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) - which is running the summit - confirmed the walkout to journalists on Wednesday morning."

Jack Graham reports for Thomson Reuters Foundation December 14, 2022.

SEE ALSO:

"What Are Keystone Species And Why Do We Need Them?" (Deutsche Welle)

"Factbox: Biodiversity Finance Options Grow, But Pace Of Investment Still Slow" (Reuters)

"Analysis: Protecting 30% of the Planet To Save Nature Is Not As Simple As It Sounds" (Reuters)

"The World Is Struggling To Figure Out Conservation. First Nations Have Some Ideas." (Grist)

"Rich Nations Oppose New Biodiversity Fund" (AFP)

"The 30 Percent Goal: Is Bigger Always Better for Biodiversity?" (YaleE360)

 

Source: Thomson Reuters Fdn., 12/15/2022