Romina Pourmokhtari on COP16 agreement: “Russia is crossing its arms”

According to the UN, one million of the planet’s total of eight million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction because of humans. At the UN meeting in Colombia, the idea was that the world should agree on concrete solutions to stop the mass extinction, including by protecting 30 percent of the earth’s surface by the year 2030.

But the meeting has rather been characterized by the conflict-filled world politics and the negotiations are tough.

– There is a risk that there will not actually be an agreement, says Romina Pourmokhtari to SVT before she rushes on to new negotiations.

The climate minister singles out Russia – which behind closed doors is “crossing its arms”.

Locking around money

Much of the disagreement is about money and monitoring, with the climate minister saying that Sweden plays a big role in the mediation.

– The rich countries do not want to give more money and the developing countries do not want to measure and be transparent. We have to get out of this lockdown, says Pourmokhtari.

For the Swedish government, it is not the issue of money that is a problem, but the latter.

– The progress where measurement, environmental monitoring and reporting are concerned – that is where Sweden is pushing and believes that the key issue lies, says the climate minister.

Last day

An agreement must be reached today, November 1, the last day of the meeting. The negotiations are expected to continue late into the night.

In several areas, however, the negotiations have reached a conclusion. Among other things, how the oceans should be protected, decisions about invasive species and a plan for biodiversity and health.

– However, several of those questions depend on whether an agreement is reached on funding and review, says Ankin Ljungman, policy director at the World Wide Fund for Nature.

No action plan

Ankin Ljungman is satisfied with the Swedish technical delegation, but questions the political will.

– The Swedish government has failed to come up with an action plan on how Sweden should turn around and stop the natural crisis. It was a promise made before this meeting, says Ankin Ljungman.

Only a fraction of the participating countries have submitted the action plans promised at COP15.

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