With just one month to go until COP15 begins in Montreal, Canada, the press reported on Thursday, November 10 that there will not be heads of state at COP15.
This is a very concerning situation considering this critical conference seeks to agree on a pathway to curb the collapse of our entire planetary life support system – one million species are at risk of extinction and unless critical ecosystems are urgently protected we could face serious threats not just to the natural world, but to our climate, health, food and clean water supply.
COP15 is the most important global summit for nature this decade. A ten year Global Biodiversity Framework should be agreed, but negotiations are way off track and there are serious concerns about the capacity of officials to find common ground without a clear indication from the highest level that it is a priority. Having government leaders there is essential to elevate this crisis to the level it deserves with officials, the media, the public and importantly to send a clear signal to investors and shareholders that the world is united in an ambition to end the devastating business as usual.
The COP15 summit has been referred to as the the moment for a ‘Paris Deal’ for nature – referring to the Paris Climate Agreement where the world came together behind a global climate agreement. The Paris Agreement was achieved because despite great differences between nations, leaders came from every continent, understanding the political significance and importance of finding compromises through decisions that only they can make on very short timelines. As ex heads of state and ministers and UN leaders we know how important the leaders’ presence can make to these summits.
We understand that, if invited, heads of state would be inclined to go. It would also be possible to hold a hybrid event, as happened frequently during the peak of the COVID19 crisis, to ensure the balanced participation of leaders from all over the world.
There is no possibility for the ambitious agreement our planet needs if we continue with business as usual. For this COP to have a chance of success we need it to begin with high level representatives from governments from all regions of the world declaring their commitment, determination and motivation to get a deal. We call on the United Nations, in coordination with China and Canada, to invite world leaders and ministers to deliver an ambitious opening to this summit that underscores the urgent need for action and sends a clear signal that defending our planet’s precious ecosystems and all the spectacular species that live here must be a priority.
Russ Feingold
Chair of Campaign for Nature’s Global Steering Committee
Former US Senator and former Special Envoy to Great Lakes Region of Africa
Hailemariam Desalegn
Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia
Iván Duque Márquez
Former President of Colombia
Christiana Figueres
Former Executive Secretary UNFCCC
Olafur Ragnar Grimsson
Former President of Iceland
Zakri Abdul Hamid
Founding Chair of IPBES and Former Science Advisor to Prime Minister of Malaysia
Ernest Bai Koroma
Former President of Sierra Leone
Tony LaVina
Former Undersecretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Philippines
Tzipi Livni
Former Foreign Minister of Israel
Susana Malcorra
Former Foreign Minister of Argentina
Mary Robinson
Former President of Ireland
Ruhakana Rugunda
Former Prime Minister of Uganda
Rashid Sumaila
Professor Institute for Oceans and Fisheries
Yongyuth Yuthavong
Former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand
