COP15 tackling biodiversity
REPRESENTATIVES from more than 150 countries recently attended the United Nations biodiversity conference, also known as COP15.
The purpose of the summit was to discuss ways to protect different kinds of living things, or biodiversity, on our planet.
Biodiversity includes everything from the tiniest life forms, like bacteria, to massive trees and whales.
It also includes coral, oceans and underwater kelp forests.
Though scientists are discovering new species of plants and animals, sadly, species are disappearing too.
Biodiversity is under threat because of several factors, including climate change and human activities such as farming, mining, overfishing and deforestation (cutting down of trees for wood).
COP15 – the 15th Conference of the Parties – aims to help governments around the world agree to new plans, goals and ways of cooperating to prevent animal and plant species becoming extinct.
COP15 will consist of two meetings because of the coronavirus pandemic.
