In an effort to prevent what scientists refer to as the “sixth mass extinction event,” nearly 200 countries pledged to protect 30% of the planet by 2030 at the COP15 summit of the United Nations, held in December of last year. Since then, the government of the United Kingdom has pledged to bring together the private and public sectors, banks, and charities to raise funds to meet the COP15 financial goals.
Seventy-five percent of the Earth’s surface has been degraded, and fifty percent of the world’s coral reefs have disappeared. The harvesting, logging, hunting, and fishing that result in the overexploitation of animals, plants, and other organisms are largely the result of human activity. The United Kingdom has been identified as one of the most nature-depleted countries, with no river in England being able to receive a clean bill of health due to pollutants released into waterways.
King Charles III has long advocated for environmental protection, and his meeting at Buckingham Palace will be part of a larger government effort to protect rare wildlife, clean up land and water, and combat climate change. However, the OEP has deemed their efforts insufficient, and the King’s meeting is seen as a significant opportunity to motivate the private sector to take action.
King Charles III will meet with global political and financial leaders on Friday at Buckingham Palace to discuss the global biodiversity crisis. The meeting follows the December 2015 COP15 summit of the United Nations, at which nearly 200 countries pledged to protect 30 percent of the planet by 2030 in an effort to prevent what scientists refer to as the “sixth mass extinction event.”
Due to human activities such as harvesting, logging, hunting, and fishing, biodiversity is rapidly declining across the globe. All rivers in England are polluted by the release of chemicals, sewage, and other pollutants. The government of the United Kingdom has pledged to bring together the private and public sectors, banks, and charities to raise funds to meet the COP15 financial goals.
King Charles III has long been an ardent advocate for environmental protection, and his meeting at Buckingham Palace provides him with the opportunity to encourage private sector support for biodiversity protection. The Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) has expressed concern over the government’s insufficient efforts to improve England’s environment.
The meeting on Friday is anticipated to represent a significant advance in the fight against global biodiversity loss. It is hoped that King Charles III’s advocacy will encourage private sector support that will aid in achieving the ambitious COP15 goals. If successful, it could prevent what scientists refer to as the “sixth mass extinction event” and ensure that future generations can enjoy a healthy natural environment.
