Summit Dialogue, Ep. 23: An Interview with Stewart Patrick on Tackling Biodiversity

I was pleased to invite into the virtual studio Stewart Patrick to discuss the many efforts to tackle the dramatic decline in biodiversity. Today, there are many summit initiatives underway to deal with the alarming decline in biodiversity. The need to reverse the decline in biodiversity is all too apparent. Humans have already transformed more than 70 percent of the planet’s ice-free land surface, primarily for agriculture and ranching, as well as for mining and human settlements. Around 1 million animal and plant species are now threatened with extinction, many within decades, more than ever before in human history. There are many initiatives underway from deserts to wetlands to the High Seas all to deal with the rapid decline in biodiversity. But are they effective? So, Stewart agreed to join us in the Virtual Studio to talk about all these efforts. Stewart M. Patrick is James H. Binger senior fellow in global governance and director of the International Institutions and Global Governance (IIGG) Program at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). His areas of expertise include multilateral cooperation on global issues; U.S. policy toward international institutions, including the United Nations and a focus biodiversity and climate change. From September 2002 to January 2005, Stewart served on the secretary of state's policy planning staff. He is the author, coauthor, or editor of five books. These days Stewart writes the blog, The Internationalist. Stewart graduated from Stanford University and received two master’s degrees and his doctorate in international relations from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar.