Panama’s environment minister is urging U.N. biodiversity talks to replace consensus with majority voting, arguing one country can block an agreement as his government seeks to host the 2028 summit.
Environment Minister Juan Carlos Navarro made the proposal at COP17, the U.N. biodiversity Conference of the Parties meeting in Yerevan, Armenia, AFP reported. Panama and Ecuador are the only candidates to host COP18, the next biennial summit, and a decision could come this week, AFP reported.
Nearly 200 countries are in Yerevan working to advance a global nature-protection agreement that has lost momentum, according to AFP. Navarro said consensus rules can make agreement impossible when every country must approve a decision. AFP quoted him describing the negotiations as “hypocrisy contests.”
Navarro also backs a single U.N. forum for climate, biodiversity and pollution discussions, saying the issues should be addressed together, AFP reported. The agency said he cited Panama’s campaign for a U.N. declaration recognizing the universal rights of nature and a domestic effort to increase ranger numbers roughly sevenfold to protect national parks.
If Panama wins the hosting role, Navarro said delegates should face pressure to act and deliver immediate results on the ground. COP17 attendees could choose between Panama and Ecuador as the next host this week, AFP reported.
