December 2, 2022

UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15) – What can we expect?

After several pushbacks, part 2 of the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15) will take place from 7 – 19 December 2022 in Montreal, Canada. The conference will convene governments from around the world to agree on a new set of goals for nature over the next decade, to tackle the increasing rate of biodiversity loss worldwide.

Journalists came along to ask their questions and hear from top biodiversity experts, who will discuss topics relating to COP 15 and biodiversity loss, such as:

• Why do we need to worry about biodiversity loss?
• What are the drivers of biodiversity loss?
• The current state of biodiversity loss and modelling of biodiversity loss.
• What goals for nature are expected to be set at COP15? What is the science behind these proposed goals for nature?
• What are the challenges and potential solutions in tackling biodiversity loss?

Speakers included:

Prof Alexandre Antonelli, Director of Science, Kew Gardens

Prof Andy Purvis, Research Leader, Diversity and Informatics Division, Natural History Museum

Prof Mark Emmerson, Professor at Queen’s University Belfast, and Vice-President of the British Ecological Society

Prof Helen Roy, Ecologist, UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology