Schneider: we Europeans negotiated as a united and strong force
At the COP17 UN Biodiversity Conference, countries have agreed to step up efforts to protect biodiversity worldwide.
Yerevan (dpa) – Delegates at the 17th UN Biodiversity Conference (COP17) in Yerevan have adopted the so-called Yerevan Pathway calling for faster action: harmful subsidies are to be phased out, funding for developing countries is to be increased and national spending is to be aligned with biodiversity conservation targets. Where the money will come from remains unclear, however. Since 19 October, representatives of around 200 countries party to the convention, including Germany, have been negotiating in the Armenian capital on how to meet their biodiversity protection targets despite setbacks so far.
German Environment Minister Carsten Schneider said: “We Europeans stood united and argued strongly in favour of protecting nature, but some countries were reluctant to take on greater responsibility, particularly when it came to funding. “We will continue our efforts to expand protected areas on land and at sea.” Germany too would take a “systematic approach to restoring our ecosystems”, said the minister.
