From December 7th to 19th, Montreal, Quebec is hosting the 15th annual Conference of the Parties, otherwise referred to as COP15 to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. This important conference brings together almost 200 representatives from around the world to discuss protecting nature and preventing international biodiversity loss, an alarming issue for ecosystems across the globe.
Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth including humans, plants, animals, fungi and even microorganisms like bacteria. It is essential for survival and the supply of food, medicine, fresh air and water, shelter, and a clean and healthy environment in which to live.
One of the main drivers of biodiversity loss is climate change. With rising temperatures and increased levels of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere, various ecosystems including marine, terrestrial, and freshwater are permanently being altered. These habitat modifications result in increased diseases, ocean acidification, algal blooms, and consequently the loss of many species.
This year’s conference aims to create a framework to protect 30% of land and sea by the end of the decade known as “30 by 30”. In order to achieve this goal, individuals and businesses look towards sustainable development. As we prepare for 2023, Business for Nature recommends the following actions for businesses:
- Assessing our impacts and dependencies on nature
- Disclosing our material nature-related information
- Committing publicly to avoid and reduce our negative impacts, prioritizing the most material issues across our operations, value chains and portfolios
- Transforming our business strategies and models to restore and regenerate nature and collaborate across river basins, land, and seascapes
