The planet faces a mass loss of species that could rival the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs. If trends continue, global biodiversity could shrink dramatically. This scenario frames the Biodiversity Summit in Montreal, COP15, over the next two weeks as nations aim for a sharper agreement to halt declines in species, ecosystems, and natural landscapes worldwide. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged, on the eve of the debate, that humanity must stop waging war on nature and instead seek peace.
The Montreal talks follow closely after the climate summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, which vowed to raise ambition in the climate fight but ended with a minimal agreement after intense criticism from scientists, activists, and diplomats. While tensions linger, the biodiversity-focused discussions intend to reframe international environmental policy with a sharper emphasis on protecting ecosystems and curbing pollution.
From December 7 to 19, Montreal hopes to chart the Paris Nature Deal in practical terms. Laurence Tubiana, a principal architect of the historic Paris Agreement and director of the European Climate Foundation, describes this as a framework with agreed goals, laws, policies, and financing tools at all levels designed to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. The phrase The Paris Agreement to protect all life on Earth underscores the aim of this gathering (Citation: Tubiana commentary).
environmental diplomacy
The talks will be led by China, originally slated to host but delayed to Montreal due to covid-19 restrictions. The exact role of the Chinese presidency remains to be seen, though past signposts offer a cautionary note. In 2020, nearly 90 countries signed a joint statement reaffirming commitments to environmental policies and the need for more ambitious protections of nature. That manifesto, which will frame the negotiations, did not see signatures from China, Russia, India, or the United States.
On the eve of the summit, several negotiating stances are already apparent. Bolivia, South Africa, and Ecuador are pressing for robust financial commitments to environmental policies despite opposition from Britain, India, and Japan. Brazil, under President Lula, will advocate for sustainable land use while resisting measures to curb soil pollution or overhaul agriculture. Europe aims to end plastic pollution and reduce pesticide use.
One of the central commitments to be highlighted is the protection of ecosystems. Drafts released so far indicate Montreal will pursue a binding agreement to protect at least 30 percent of land and sea surfaces by the end of the decade. This would involve creating more protected areas and expanding protective measures. NGOs stress the broader aim of safeguarding the remaining 70 percent of the planet through climate-justice aligned policies and strong Indigenous leadership (Citation: NGO statements).
Summit background
Montreal’s biodiversity summit sits against a troubled history. The 2010 Nagoya Conference produced a strategic plan with a 2020 horizon, yet reports show only six of the twenty commitments were fulfilled. Progress in other areas was uneven, and by 2022 the picture looked similar. The upcoming talks are framed as a chance to translate promises into concrete action on the ground rather than mere rhetoric.
Experts warn of a sixth mass extinction
The Montreal agreement seeks to become a turning point in nature conservation, translating high-level commitments into practical targets and measures. Nearly twenty thousand attendees are expected, with debates covering invasive species, reform of the agri-food system, and subsidy reforms aimed at curbing fossil-fuel-driven ecological damage. The goal is to mobilize action that minimizes the ecological toll of energy and industry while supporting sustainable development and protection for vulnerable ecosystems (Citation: conference briefings).