As the 15th UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) draws to a close, Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante remains hopeful that governments around the world will come up with an ambitious final declaration, even if the negotiations have been arduous in the last few days. The elected also asks the States to listen more to the solutions that the cities have to offer, which find themselves at the forefront when it comes time to manage the effects of the climate and environmental crisis on their citizens.
“In terms of biodiversity, I want a before and after Montreal,” insisted Ms. Plante on Saturday, in an interview at the Homework at the convention center. The mayoress had just, a few minutes earlier, spoken in front of hundreds of people gathered as part of the High Level Segment of COP 15.
The draft of the final declaration of this international summit sets itself ambitious targets, including that of protecting 30% of all terrestrial and marine territories by 2030. However, many hooks remain in this draft, a sign that negotiations are stalling between countries on certain aspects. The question of the colossal financing of these measures, which must essentially come from developed countries in support of developing ones, has in particular aroused passions in recent days. But Ms. Plante, faced with this situation, remains “optimistic”.
“Of course it’s special because at this time, all I can do is send energy and encourage the troops to sort everything out,” insists Ms. Plante , which recalls “the urgency to act” to protect global biodiversity.
Influencing Cities
The mayoress, who has actively participated in COP15 over the past two weeks, also hopes to succeed in “influencing” other cities to take ambitious decisions to protect their green spaces. As an example, she cites the City’s recent commitment to expand the Mont-Royal Park site by three hectares as well as the target of the Montreal Metropolitan Community – over which the mayor presides – to protect 30% of the territory it represents. by 2030.
“We are very proactive,” says Ms. Plante, who notes that Montreal is on its way to becoming an international “leader” in terms of environmental protection. The mayor says she wants to “encourage cities, small or large, to act within their means” to preserve their green spaces.
As for the States, they should recognize more the leading role played by cities in the fight against climate change, and therefore listen more to the solutions they have to offer, believes the head of Projet Montréal. “In the COP, it is the States that decide, but the cities have to be heard because we are on the ground and we are in action-reaction mode”, especially when floods or heat waves occur, he said. she illustrated.
“Making tough decisions”
In order to protect the environment, cities must sometimes be ready to take the risk of being criticized by certain citizens, for example by transforming parking spaces into islands of greenery, believes Ms. Plante.
“Whenever we talk about changing mineralized spaces into green spaces, everyone agrees with that. But of course, when it affects lifestyle habits or how you used to see or do things, of course it can bother a lot of people. But at the end of the day, what matters to me is to look ahead and see what we can do to protect future generations,” said the mayor. In this sense, we must create more parks and protect our banks, in particular, she insists.
“It involves making tough decisions, but if you want to do that, everyone has to do their part,” she added.
However, in order to be able to contribute fully to the protection of the environment, municipalities, in Quebec as elsewhere in the world, will need more funds from higher levels of government, notes the mayor.
“It’s the sinews of war”, launches the one who hopes that significant amounts will be associated with the commitments that will include the final declaration of COP15, part of which will eventually return to the pockets of cities, she hopes. .
COP15, which brings together representatives from 196 countries, is due to end on Monday in Montreal.