At the COP16 Nature Summit in Montreal, negotiators reached a critical agreement just before the deadline, aiming to halt the rapid decline of biodiversity and mitigate the climate crisis. The deal, called the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, includes a commitment to protect 30% of the world’s land and oceans by 2030, address the harmful subsidies that contribute to environmental degradation, and raise $200 billion annually for biodiversity conservation. The agreement also emphasizes sustainable farming practices and reducing pollution. While hailed as a milestone in international environmental governance, the deal came after lengthy and tense negotiations, with key sticking points around financing, enforcement, and how to define protection goals.
The agreement was finalized at the 11th hour after days of impasse, primarily due to disagreements over financial commitments and the scope of conservation measures. Developing countries pushed for more substantial funding and support for implementation, while wealthier nations struggled to commit to binding financial obligations. The breakthrough came when negotiators compromised on the $200 billion annual target, with promises for greater investment in developing nations’ conservation efforts. However, many environmental organizations and activists have criticized the deal as inadequate. They argue that the framework lacks binding commitments, particularly in terms of enforcement, and does not provide sufficient funding mechanisms to address the current rate of species extinction and ecosystem collapse. With nearly 1 million species at risk, critics warn that the deal’s weak provisions might not be enough to reverse ongoing environmental destruction, leaving many concerned about the real impact of the agreement. More