Si la COP17 de l'ONU est sérieuse au sujet de la biodiversité, elle doit suivre l'argent

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned the continued subsidization of fossil fuels, calling it "subsidizing suicide." Speaking at an event in Yerevan ahead of the COP17 biodiversity summit, Guterres urged governments to end financial support for the production of fossil fuels, which he described as deadly to biodiversity and contributing to planetary heating. His remarks came amid growing concerns over the impact of economic activities on global ecosystems. Guterres' comments were made shortly before the start of COP17, the UN biodiversity conference taking place in Armenia. He emphasized that fossil fuel subsidies are not just environmentally harmful but also represent a threat to human survival. The statement reflects broader anxieties within the international community regarding the alignment of financial systems with environmental goals. Recent reports highlight the extent to which financial institutions are funding industries that contribute significantly to biodiversity loss. According to a new analysis by the Forests & Finance coalition, banks have allocated $595 billion since 2020 to companies operating in high-risk agribusiness and metal and mineral mining sectors across tropical forest regions. This includes $351 billion directed toward agro-commodities and $244 billion to mining operations, both of which are key drivers of deforestation and ecological degradation. These figures underscore a critical challenge in addressing the biodiversity crisis. While governments have pledged under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework to align financial flows with biodiversity objectives, financial institutions continue to operate with limited constraints on their ability to fund activities that damage the environment. Current financial risk assessments fail to fully account for the long-term ecological consequences of such investments. In Brazil, banks have provided $83 billion to the soy sector since 2020, including $6.8 billion this year alone. This comes despite the collapse of the Amazon Soy Moratorium, a measure previously effective in curbing deforestation linked to soy production. Similarly, in Indonesia, banks have invested $67.1 billion into the pulp and palm oil sectors, supporting companies repeatedly found violating their own commitments to avoid deforestation and peatland degradation. As COP17 approaches, the focus shifts to how effectively nations can address these challenges. The UN report indicates that fewer than half of the national targets aimed at protecting biodiversity are currently on track. Despite some progress, including the setting of national targets by nearly 90% of countries party to the Convention on Biological Diversity, significant gaps remain between aspirations and actions. Guterres called for increased financial support and technical assistance for developing countries, urging governments to eliminate harmful subsidies and redirect funds toward conservation efforts. He stressed the importance of integrating biodiversity considerations into all policy decisions, emphasizing that nature's survival depends on more than just good intentions.