If you hear “COP”, you probably think of climate change. But did you know there are three major environmental COPs?
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) COP focuses on desertification, land degradation and drought. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) COP addresses biodiversity and nature. And the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP focuses on climate change.
So, why three?
While the three conventions have different mandates, the issues they address are closely connected. What happens to forests and other landscapes can affect biodiversity, climate and the health of the land. And efforts to tackle one of these challenges can also support action on the others.
This year, all three COPs are taking place, starting with UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
So what does this mean in practice? And why do healthy landscapes matter across all three?
Watch the latest episode of Wait, what?! to find out.