Representatives of 190 plus nations discuss biodiversity in Cancun

World Today

Representatives of 190 plus nations discuss biodiversity in Cancun

Representatives from more than 190 countries are wrapping up two weeks of talks at a United Nations Biodiversity conference in Cancun, Mexico.

Their goal is to strengthen the world’s ecosystems, in the face of increasing environmental threats. CCTV America’s Martin Markovits reports.
Follow Martin Markovits on Twitter @MartinMarkovits

In a world where environmentalists say biodiversity is shrinking at alarming rates, 190 nations gathered in Cancun, Mexico to promote conservation. Among its goals, the 13th United Nations Conference on Biodiversity is pushing the world to protect 10 percent of coastal and marine areas by 2020.

Organizers say there is little time left to act in light of recent news that 93 percent of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is suffering from coral reef bleaching.

Timed to coincide with the conference, host Mexico announced the establishment of three new marine Biosphere Reserves on both its Pacific and Atlantic coasts. It will more than double Mexico’s marine protection commitment from 10 percent to 23 percent an important win for environmentalists who say developing countries need to step up efforts in the event U.S. leadership falls off during the upcoming Administration of Donald Trump.

At this year’s conference member nations adopted the Cancun Declaration in which they pledged to integrate biodiversity into the policies of their countries agriculture, fisheries, and tourism sectors.

Organizers say it is crucial that these different sectors work together in order to guarantee food security and economic growth without negatively impacting the environment.