The leaders describe the pledge as a “turning point” by which future generations will judge their willingness to act on environmental destruction. “Science clearly shows that biodiversity loss, land and ocean degradation, pollution, resource depletion and climate change are accelerating at an unprecedented rate. We cannot afford to dither and delay because biodiversity loss is happening today and it is happening at a frightening rate. Other signatories to the pledge include the leaders of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Colombia, Costa Rica, Fiji, Kenya, Seychelles and Mexico. The UN’s biodiversity head, Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, welcomed the new commitment by world leaders, describing it as an “inspirational contribution” to ongoing negotiations due to “the urgency, unity and ambition of the pledge”.

Source: The Guardian September 27, 2020 22:52 UTC