Biodiversity & COP 15: A Review From Producers Trust

COP 15: Mainstreaming Biodiversity for Well-Being

I recently had the opportunity to represent Producers Trust at COP15 in Montreal, Canada, and I’m happy to share a brief review of the event. 

The 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) took place in Montreal, Canada. From December 7 to December 19, 2022 over 10,000 delegates from 190 countries attended the conference. These delegates included heads of state, ministers, and other high-level officials. The summit brought together governments, NGOs, and experts from around the world to discuss the state of the world’s biodiversity and to develop strategies for protecting and conserving it.

The main theme of the summit was “mainstreaming biodiversity for well-being.” This theme emphasized the importance of biodiversity for the health and well-being of people, as well as the need to integrate conservation efforts into all sectors of society. The summit also focused on the need to address the root causes of biodiversity loss, such as habitat destruction, climate change, and pollution.

Outcomes & Goals of COP15

One of the key outcomes of the summit was the adoption of the Montreal Declaration on Biodiversity. This declaration outlines a number of ambitious goals and targets for protecting biodiversity.

These goals include:

• Protecting at least 30% of the world’s land and oceans by 2030
• Restoring at least 15% of degraded ecosystems by 2030
• Halting and reversing the loss of threatened species by 2030
• Achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets

The Montreal Declaration also called for increased investment in biodiversity conservation, as well as greater collaboration between governments, businesses, and civil society.

Another significant outcome of the summit was the launch of the Global Biodiversity Framework, a comprehensive plan for achieving the goals of the Montreal Declaration. The Framework outlines a number of actions that governments, businesses, and civil society can take to conserve biodiversity, including:

• Strengthening the legal and policy frameworks for biodiversity conservation
• Promoting sustainable land use and agriculture practices
• Reducing pollution and other forms of environmental degradation
• Strengthening the capacity of local communities to conserve biodiversity

A Critical Moment for Biodiversity

The biodiversity summit in Montreal was a critical moment in the global effort to protect and conserve the world’s biodiversity. The commitments made at the summit will be crucial for ensuring that future generations have the opportunity to enjoy the many benefits that biodiversity provides.

I left COP15 feeling hopeful and motivated to continue working towards a more sustainable and secure future for all. The road ahead will no doubt be difficult, but I am confident that with continued cooperation and determination, we can overcome the challenges and make real progress in the fight against habitat destruction and the future loss of biodiversity.

Max Cooper is the President of Producers Market and StoryBird. He has developed regenerative agriculture programs in the U.S. and Latin America. His passion is connecting with agricultural producers and brands, around the world, and supporting them with technology solutions that connect them directly to wholesale buyers and end consumers.