Canada along with the other 195 member nations have wrapped up negotiations at the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity in Montréal. After 13 days of negotiations at the largest ever conference for biodiversity conservation, Parties at COP15 in Montréal agreed on a historic global framework to safeguard nature and halt and reverse biodiversity loss, putting nature on a path to recovery by 2050.
The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, worked tirelessly with international colleagues on the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework. Among Canada's main goals were protecting 30% of lands and waters by 2030, respecting the rights and roles of Indigenous peoples, and addressing the key drivers of biodiversity loss, such as pollution and overexploitation of nature. These elements were agreed upon in the final Framework.
In addition to driving ambition in international negotiations, Canada made major new commitments and investments over the course of COP15. This includes:
- Up to $800 million to support up to four Indigenous-led conservation initiatives. Once completed, these projects could protect an additional one million square kilometres.
- The Government signed the Canada-Yukon Nature Agreement, the first agreement of its kind with any province or territory. This agreement will advance nature conservation and protection across the territory and supports Indigenous leadership in conservation.
- $350 million in new and additional funding to support developing countries in protecting nature. Canada also joined like-minded countries in a joint donor statement that sets out billions of dollars from the international community to protect and restore nature.
- $255 million toward projects to help developing countries build a strong future, including by fighting climate change, protecting nature and supporting resilient local economies. Most of this funding will go toward the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity's Global Environment Facility-making Canada its 7th-largest donor country.
- The Governments of Canada and Manitoba, together with the Seal River Watershed Alliance, will work together on a feasibility assessment for an Indigenous protected area in the Seal River Watershed. Located in northern Manitoba, the Seal River Watershed is one of the richest carbon sinks in the world, and one of the world's largest remaining ecologically intact watersheds.
- The next important steps in the ban on harmful single-use plastics, as well as new support for ocean restoration, conservation, and research across Canada, backed up by $227.5 million in funding.
As countries commit to ambitious action, momentum must continue to ensure this new set of goals is achieved. At home and on the world stage, Canada will continue to lead on our shared work to protect nature and build a strong, healthy future for people everywhere.
