Canada sets priorities for UN biodiversity and climate conferences

Canada will take part in two upcoming United Nations conferences with a focus on biodiversity finance, Indigenous leadership, methane reduction, electrification and climate investment.

Environment Minister Julie Dabrusin will lead the Canadian delegation at both events, according to an Environment and Climate Change Canada announcement published October 16.

COP17, the meeting of parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, runs October 19 to 30 in Yerevan, Armenia. Canada says it will promote implementation of the Kunming–Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework and hold side events on nature finance and Indigenous leadership in conservation.

COP31, the UN climate conference, is scheduled for November 9 to 20 in Antalya, Türkiye. Canada says its delegation will work on resilience, methane emissions, electrification and mobilizing public and private finance. A Canada Pavilion is planned for a fifth consecutive year.

The announcement describes Canada’s intended positions and activities; it is not a report of negotiated outcomes.

Illustrative conservation image. Photo by Steven Kamenar via Unsplash; cropped and resized.