Page 29 - Brian Odonnell News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

A global agreement to protect a significant portion of the world's land and water will be reached in time for the end of COP15 in Montreal, federal Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault predicted Sunday. The Canadian minister spoke on the eve of the last official day of the conference as negotiators worked on a proposed agreement that would include funding provisions totalling several hundred billion dollars.

The most significant part of the U.N. pact is a commitment to protect 30% of land and water considered important for biodiversity by 2030, up from 17% of terrestrial and 10% of marine areas.

Policymakers hope an ambitious deal can spur nature conservation in the same way the Paris Agreement helped limit planet-warming carbon emissions.

The global framework comes a day before the United Nations Biodiversity Conference, or COP15, is set to end in Montreal.

"This puts us within a chance of safeguarding biodiversity from collapse," a leading conservationist told reporters. Another called the accord "a mixed bag."