At Cop17, the pressure is on to rescue a deal that could end the destruction of nature
As world leaders struggle to meet deadlines to halt nature loss set four years ago, a rare leopard in host country Armenia offers a symbol of what is at stake
TL;DR
- Cop17 is taking place in Yerevan, Armenia, with global stakeholders aiming to revive a deal to stop nature destruction.
- Targets set for 2030 to halt nature loss are not being met, increasing pressure on the nearly 200 countries attending.
- A rare Persian leopard sighting in Armenia, a symbol of endangered species, has raised hopes amid discussions on conservation.
- The new 'Cares' alliance and 'Reverse the Red' initiative aim to help countries prioritize and focus efforts on endangered species.
- Private funders have pledged over $500 million for species recovery, though concerns exist about equitable distribution of funds.
- There is a call for conservation funding to be based on scientific data rather than the charisma of animals.