Success Story

NCEL Sends Delegation to COP15 Biodiversity Conference, Inspiring State Legislation

Region

National, Northeast

NCEL Point of Contact

Kate Burgess
Conservation Program Manager

Contact

Overview 

In December 2022, NCEL Conservation Program Manager Kate Burgess traveled to Montreal for COP15 with Massachusetts State Senator Michael Moore and New Hampshire State Senator David Watters. The trip led to increased awareness of state-led efforts to protect biodiversity as well as the introduction of new biodiversity legislation by the two Northeast legislators in their home states.

  • Catch Up Quick: Biodiversity – Biodiversity loss has been dubbed the “sister crisis” to climate change that requires an all-of-government approach, but that has historically received less political attention. With one million species facing extinction, biodiversity loss – driven by climate change, invasive species, and other human-caused factors – threatens all aspects of the natural world and human life.
  • What is COP15 and why does it matter? COP15 is the leading global conference on biodiversity conservation. The first in a decade, this meeting convened governments from around the world to set new goals to stop and reverse the catastrophic loss of nature. 

With the U.S. being one of the few countries not attending COP15, NCEL sent two state legislators to show the global community that, despite federal inaction, U.S. states are leading the charge to protect biodiversity.

Outcome – NCEL’s COP15 Delegation Pursues Biodiversity Legislation

Inspired by their participation in COP15, State Senators David Watters (New Hampshire) and Michael Moore (Massachusetts) continued their action on biodiversity conservation upon returning to their home states. 

Senator Watters introduced S.B.164, which would have recognized New Hampshire’s need to maintain biodiversity and increased considerations of biodiversity in a statewide natural resource protection program. 

Senator Moore introduced and passed a resolution celebrating the biodiversity conservation efforts of Massachusetts’ Department of Fish and Wildlife. To further uplift his efforts, Senator Moore had an op-ed placed in the Telegram & Gazette highlighting his biodiversity work with NCEL and the importance of attending COP15. 

Resources

NCEL Resources

Infographic

The Five Main Drivers of Wildlife Decline

May 21, 2021

Online Resources

Biodiversity - NCEL

NCEL's webpage on biodiversity with relevant information and policy options.

Go to resource
Moore: State must lead way for biodiversity

Senator Moore's op-ed in Telegram & Gazette inspired by his biodiversity work with NCEL.

Go to resource

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