#peacewithnature

The End of COP 16

Well, that was exhausting: COP 16 has drawn to a close.

I only regret that my work as a member of Canada's state delegation left me too little time to support my Nature Canada colleagues, Ted Cheskey and Lillian Trapper. They represented us at civil society events with distinction.

Our negotiations ran late into the night. Physical exhaustion is an effective argument in driving diplomats to agreement.

We had victories on Indigenous representation and protection of genetic resources. We have work yet to do on the treaty's financial architecture.

I am looking forward to returning to the Ottawa Valley, and enjoying nature in its autumnal colours. I hope our work at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity means that many more generations will have that chance, too.

A Victory in Colombia

Our negotiations continued into the dying minutes of COP 16 in Colombia, until they were suspended.

But we did cross one finish line in time.

The world's Indigenous Peoples will now have their own permanent body at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, to speak for themselves and defend their own lands and waters.

This is a landmark moment in United Nations treaty-making.

It was a long night, but also a good day.

Final 24 Hours of Negotiations at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity COP 16

We are into the final twenty-four hours of negotiations at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity COP 16.

One critical issue is coming down to the wire: the creation of an "Article 8J" body, to enable Indigenous people to speak for themselves at the convention, in defence of their own lands, waters, and sovereignty.

My colleagues and I are committed to the creation of this body. Some states are opposed.

It is a fundamental test of character for international diplomacy.

“Canada’s Environment Minister didn’t make it to the UN nature summit. He blames the opposition.”

Because of the government's political fragility, Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault decided not to travel to Colombia to join Canada's state delegation to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity's COP16.

I spoke with The Narwhal about whether his absence is affecting our negotiations.

Moving the UN from Prim Words to Urgent Deeds

Our world is enduring the sixth mass extinction in its history: the Anthropocene Extinction. Species are disappearing at a thousand times the natural rate.

Unlike the great dyings of past epochs, this one is driven not by natural planetary catastrophes, but by human activity.

My role as a member of Canada’s state delegation at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity is to wield Nature Canada’s policy expertise, to press the treaty from prim words to urgent deeds.

Negotiations at the UN Convention on Biological Diversity COP 16

Negotiations at the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity can, at times, descend into mind-numbing minutiae.

Yet, the stakes could hardly be higher.

We are the midst of a human-driven mass extinction: species are disappearing at a thousand times the natural rate, and nearly 30% of surviving species are at risk.

Our negotiations are a moment of decision in the story of our world, not only for the human race, but for life itself.