Global mobilisation to demand real action at the CBD COP15
From Argentina to Sri Lanka the people call for system change to tackle the biodiversity crisis.
As the long awaited UN biodiversity conference draws closer, Friends of the Earth International’s members around the world have come together in a mobilisation to demand real action and meaningful policies at the CBD COP15.
The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity will discuss and hopefully agree national and international biodiversity policies for the next decade. Success is dependent on the outcome of these negotiations, which is why Friends of the Earth International and our member groups around the world are calling for system change to address the biodiversity crisis.
In Malaysia, Sahabat Alam Malaysia demanded recognition and respect of rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities including protection of their collective rights to safeguard biodiversity.
Friends of the Earth Malaysia highlighted the impact mining has on local communities and forests in the district of Kerunai, Hulu Perak, where 245 hectares of pristine forest has been given over to logging and mining operations.
Friends of the Earth Nepal called for system change on the streets of Kathmandu.
In Sri Lanka, The Centre for Environmental Justice took to the streets, exposing the need for justice, system change and an end to corporate impunity to tackle the biodiversity crisis.
Legal rights and Resource Centre/Friends of the Earth Philippines stood for “life in all its forms” as part of the biodiversity day of action. Like many parts of the world, the Philippines is under siege from relentless extractivism which threatens their mega-biodiverse ecosystems. Their 2022 State of Indigenous Peoples Address report found that “49% of mining tenements and 87% of Integrated Forest Management Areas (IFMAs) overlap with ancestral domains—which in turn host 75% of our forests.” They are calling on the Philippines government to protect ancestral domains and indigenous rights with proposals outlined in the Philippine Greenprint.
Friends of the Earth Melbourne highlighted another front line story of biodiversity destruction. They are calling for an end to logging in Mount Stirling, in Victoria and stand in internationalist solidarity for biodiversity protection.
People in Latin America mobilised in force online
In a powerful Twitter thread, Friends of the Earth Colombia/Censat Agua Viva highlighted the importance of COP15 for both communities and the Colombian state. Colombia – where community management of forests and territories has existed for decades, even centuries – could become “a leader in proposals that include participation and knowledge of communities and peoples around the care of life and territory.”
Redes/Friends of the Earth Uruguay joined the mobilisation for biodiversity, calling for COP15 to confront and stop transnational corporate greed.
Sobrevivencia/Friends of the Earth Paraguay also spoke out for the need for binding rules and minimum global standards to tackle corporate impunity. They also highlighted the need to recognise and respect the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, promote and protect their collective rights so that they can safeguard biodiversity.
Amigos de la Tierra Argentina took the call for system change to address the systemic causes of biodiversity loss to Mount Pissis, a high altitude wetland on the Andes mountain range.
Friends of the Earth Costa Rica/COECOCEIBA mobilised for biodiversity on Facebook.
In Africa, ERA/ Friends of the Earth Nigeria held a day of action for biodiversity with women and frontline communities in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Friends of the Earth Togo reiterated that biodiversity can only be saved if we counter corporate interests and false solutions.
Europe took to the streets, from Brussels to Albania
The Eden Centre/Friends of the Earth Albania echoed the cry that corporations have no place in biodiversity protection.
Friends of the Earth Spain called for system change to truly protect our natural heritage and address the systemic causes of its destruction.
Friends of the Earth Europe targeted the EU, exposing their destructive habit of putting profit over environment and people.
Their blog, UN Biodiversity talks: a risk for nature, highlights the “risk that this COP will lead to the promotion of false solutions such as biodiversity offsetting and other market-based approaches for nature protection.” And how “the EU is very much supporting this agenda, hiding under misleading terms like “Nature-Based ‘Solutions’” and “Nature Positive”.”
Friends of the Earth France called for agroecology and the rights of indigenous peoples to take precedence over corporate profits at COP15.
Individuals from around the world also joined the call to action for meaningful biodiversity protection.
We will be taking these stories and demands from the frontlines to Montreal and continue the fight to protect biodiversity at COP15.
Listen to Real World Radio’s podcast to hear about the impacts of the biodiversity crisis in Honduras, Malaysia and Nigeria and from Nele Marien, Friends of the Earth International’s forests and biodiversity coordinator, explaining why biodiversity and the CBD COP are so important.
For a full list of our demands take a look at our Dos and Don’ts for a successful Global Biodiversity Framework
Follow our latest news and publications as COP 15 CBD unfolds.
Join us on Twitter and Facebook.
