COP15 Montreal

During COP15 two new guides were issued to support faith communities who want to join larger efforts to protect the world's ecosystems through reforesting and facilitating conversations around environmental restoration.

The nations of the world secured a historic deal on behalf of nature on the final day of the United Nations COP15 summit, charting a path to halt and reverse the rapid loss of biodiversity by 2030.

Leaders from nearly 200 nations are meeting for the Dec. 7-19 U.N. Biodiversity Conference known as COP15. With scientists warning that the loss of nature is accelerating at dangerous speeds, Catholic activists are urging nations at the biodiversity conference in Montreal to act to protect life on earth at all levels.

Archbishop Ivan Jurkovic, apostolic nuncio to Canada, said at COP15 that the global deal under negotiation here in Montreal must address the drivers of biodiversity loss and uphold the rights of Indigenous peoples.

The prospect of new protected areas in the 30x30 plan raises alarms for many Indigenous communities around the world, who fear they could be barred from their traditional lands in the name of conservation.

As representatives from nearly 200 countries gather for the United Nations Biodiversity Conference in Montreal, environmental activists living in the Amazon region hope the conference's proposals will generate new projects in favor of the forest and the populations that live in the region.

Meeting with Elizabeth Mrema, executive secretary of the U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity, the Faiths at COP15 coalition pledged to mobilize their communities to implement whatever biodiversity agreement is achieved.

An event Dec. 8, titled Faith Voices Raising Ambition for a Strong Global Biodiversity Framework, marked the first time that faith-based organizations held an official side event at a U.N. biodiversity conference. Faith groups hope to raise their moral voices and contribute to implementation strategies at COP15 in Montreal.

Nations are gathering in Canada for COP15, the U.N. biodiversity summit. Representatives of the world's religions will be there, where they hope to raise moral principles and policy priorities on preserving creation.