Huge Increase In Agribusiness Lobbyists At UN Biodiversity Summit

A DeSmog analysis has revealed a significant increase in industry lobbyists at the UN's Cop16 Biodiversity Summit, with the total number of industry delegates reaching 1,261. One of the main drivers of biodiversity loss highlighted at the summit was the meat industry, which claims half of the world's habitable land for grazing animals and growing animal feed. Despite the negative impact of meat consumption on biodiversity, no concrete efforts to reduce consumption were agreed upon at the summit, with beef even being served at the event.

The presence of pesticide companies at Cop16, who stand to benefit from the lack of action on the meat industry, was also on the rise. With almost half of pesticides globally used on main animal feed crops such as soy and corn, industrial pesticide use remains a leading cause of biodiversity loss. The discrepancy in priorities at the summit was highlighted by Ioannis Agapakis of ClientEarth, who noted the contrast between powerful interests seeking to legitimize their destructive practices and Indigenous representatives raising concerns about human rights violations and biodiversity destruction.