Boris Johnson: saving forests will protect biodiversity

Glasgow, United Kingdom, Nov 2 (EFE).- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson told leaders and environmentalists at the COP26 on Tuesday that in order to protect the world’s biodiversity, tackling climate change was urgent.

“Climate change and biodiversity are two sides of the same coin,” Johnson said at the deforestation conference. “We can’t tackle climate change without tackling biodiversity loss.”

If natural resources were protected, consumers would be able to enjoy “guilt-free chocolate,” the PM added.

Joining Johnson at the session was Ivan Duque, president of Colombia, one of the most biodiverse nations on the planet.

The Colombian pledged his government’s commitment to declaring 30% of his nation a protected area by 2022, a goal that is far more ambitious than the global target of 2030.

Duque said protecting biodiversity was at the heart of Colombia’s national strategy and that this year alone 120 million trees will have been planted as part of his government’s pledge to tackle deforestation.

Johnson said 110 world leaders had signed a “landmark” declaration on halting deforestation and reversing land degradation by 2030. The signing nations account for around 85% of the planet´s forests.

The agreement includes a $12 billion state-funded investment as well as a $7.2 billion private fund.

“We have to stop the devastating loss of our forests,” the prime minister urged, and “end the role of humanity as nature’s conqueror, and instead become nature’s custodian.”EFE

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