Key Impact Points
- Biodiversity under review: COP16 in Colombia will see nations presenting strategies to protect 30% of the planet by 2030.
- Climate finance in the spotlight: COP29 in Azerbaijan aims to secure new funding commitments from wealthy nations to support developing countries in addressing climate change.
- Plastic treaty negotiations: South Korea hosts a final session aimed at establishing global limits on plastic production, with nations divided on the approach.
As environmental challenges intensify, the United Nations is hosting four critical summits to address urgent global threats, including biodiversity loss, climate change, desertification, and plastic pollution. These high-level conferences will drive discussions on solutions to protect the planet’s future.
Biodiversity Summit: COP16 in Colombia
From October 21 to November 1, Cali, Colombia will host the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16), focusing on biodiversity. Nations will present their strategies to meet the 30×30 goal, an initiative to protect 30% of the Earth’s ecosystems by 2030, agreed upon during the Montreal 2022 summit. While no groundbreaking announcements are expected, this conference will assess global progress on biodiversity protection.
Colombia, a country rich in biodiversity, is seen as a model, with WWF praising its efforts to preserve species such as birds, butterflies, and orchids.
Climate Finance at COP29 in Azerbaijan
The most significant event on this year’s environmental calendar, COP29, will take place in Azerbaijan from November 11 to 22. The primary focus will be on climate finance, with developing nations pushing for wealthier countries to contribute more than the $100 billion pledged in 2009. Although the target was only reached in 2022, developing countries are advocating for increased investment to address the growing impacts of climate change.
Discussions will likely center on finding new ways to secure public and private financing for climate initiatives. The outcome of the U.S. election, held just six days before COP29, could also influence the final negotiations.
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Desertification at COP16 in Saudi Arabia
A crucial, though less-publicized summit, COP16 on desertification, will convene in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from December 2 to 13. With climate variation and human activity like overgrazing accelerating the spread of desertification, the summit aims to develop strategies to restore 1.5 billion hectares of land by 2030 and improve responses to drought conditions already impacting regions globally.
Plastic Treaty Negotiations in South Korea
Beginning on November 25, the final session for a global treaty on plastic pollution will take place in South Korea. Countries are split on how to address the mounting plastic waste crisis. Some nations advocate for limits on plastic production, while others, especially oil and gas producers, push for focusing on recycling.
Hellen Kahaso Dena, head of Greenpeace’s Pan-African Plastics Project, hopes for a treaty that prioritizes reducing plastic production, stating, “There is no time to waste with approaches that will not solve the problem.”
As the world faces critical environmental challenges, these UN summits provide a platform for international cooperation and concrete action. From protecting biodiversity to securing climate finance, the decisions made at COP29 and other conferences could have far-reaching implications for the planet’s future.
