S1E60: Saving biodiversity: It should be in our nature - Green Pulse Ep 60

Green Pulse Ep 60: Saving biodiversity: It should be in our nature 17:36 min Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. The world is full of amazing plant and animal life, without which humans could not survive. Nature, from forests to coral reefs, to soils and grasslands, provides humanity with food and materials to live. Yet nature is under great threat from our rush for resources to grow our economies and cities. About one million species are now threatened with extinction, the United Nations’ biodiversity panel says, with three-quarters of the land-based environment and about 66 per cent of the marine environment significantly altered by human actions. This week, delegates from around the world met virtually to discuss a new global deal for nature to limit the damage caused by environmental destruction, pollution and climate change.  In this episode, ST environment correspondent Audrey Tan and climate change editor David Fogarty talk to Dr David Cooper, who is deputy executive secretary, for the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. Dr Cooper is speaking to us from Kunming in China, which has been hosting this week’s talks, the first round of discussions before a major in-person meeting in Kunming from April 25 to May 8, 2022. They discuss the following points: What is the aim of the in-person COP15 biodiversity talks next year, and how will this month’s virtual meet help in establishing a global deal for nature? (1:22)  What are the threats confronting biodiversity on land and in the sea today? (3:30) How bad is the situation now? (4:48)  Why biodiversity conservation needs to involve more than just environment ministers (7:20) What are the links between biodiversity and climate? (9:45) A carbon price is one policy tool to dealing with the climate crisis. What about putting a price on nature to help with biodiversity conservation? (13:07) What can individuals do to help tackle the climate and biodiversity crises? (15:28)  Produced by: Audrey Tan ([email protected]), David Fogarty ([email protected]), Ernest Luis & Fa’izah Sani Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Subscribe to Green Pulse Podcast series and rate us on your favourite audio apps: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6EV  Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: [email protected] Follow Audrey Tan on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLMB Read her stories: https://str.sg/JLM2 Follow David Fogarty on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his stories: https://str.sg/JLMu Read ST's Climate Code Red site: https://str.sg/3pSz --- Discover more ST podcast series: Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/JWaN ST Sports Talk Podcast: https://str.sg/JWRE Life Weekend Picks Podcast: https://str.sg/JWa2 #PopVultures Podcast: https://str.sg/JWad Bookmark This! Podcast: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko Podcast: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.