COP15 accomplishments
The UN conference on biodiversity, on the other hand, was deemed a success by many.
Emma Despland, professor of biology in the Faculty of Arts and Science, reports that she was pleased with the outcome of COP15.
“I was impressed by the respect given to science, acceptance of evidence of biodiversity loss, commitment, professionalism and constructive attitudes in the negotiations I witnessed,” Despland says.
“Despite some watering down of language and concerns over financing, this agreement to protect nature is the strongest we’ve ever had.”
In December, negotiators finalized an agreement with several goals, including conserving at least 30 per cent of land and oceans by 2030 while respecting Indigenous and traditional territories in the expansion of new protected areas.
There is also a pledge to reduce subsidies deemed harmful to nature by at least $500 billion USD by 2030.
“To me, the real concern is over the political will to meet the targets,” Despland adds. “Of the targets for 2020 set out in the Aichi (Japan) talks in 2010, only six were partially met and none were completely met.”
Universities’ role in fighting climate change and biodiversity loss
Both Despland and Bossert believe universities like Concordia have an important role to play in enacting the commitments laid out in UN climate and biodiversity agreements.
Despland notes that the final COP15 agreement calls for “the involvement of all of society to halt and reverse biodiversity loss,” which includes universities.
“Many universities are large landowners and need to rethink how to manage their campuses in nature-positive ways.”
Concordia is already a leader in sustainable development. The university recently launched Sustainability in the Digital Age, a think tank that brings together subject-matter experts who will explore how digital innovation can help achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Concordia committed to supporting the SDGs in 2020. It has since placed among the 100 best universities in the world in the 2022 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings, which tracks the progress of the international higher education sector toward achieving the SDGs.
Bossert maintains that universities have an important role when it comes to climate change because they tend to have a more long-term and neutral perspective. Politicians are looking to the next election period and industry is motivated by their next quarterly review, so they’re less able to tackle long-term problems.
“Universities will equip the next generation with knowledge,” he says. “They will help form the change-agents and decision-makers of the future.”
Learn more about Concordia’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.