The EU is an active contributor for fighting against climate changes, rising temperatures or melting ice caps. A recent meeting of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) however reminded us of another challenge to fight for: preserving natural reserves. This meeting held in Nagoja, Japan on 18 - 29 October 2010 is called Conference of the Parties (COP). It is already a tenth meeting of this kind and its main role is to advance implementation of a Convention on Biological Diversity.

According to the leader of the MEPs Jo Leinen: "equally important as fighting climate change is making sure that stable ecosystems will also exist in the future. Biodiversity is …about the livelihood of future generations". He added that a proper research, which would bring quality data about the damages on the environment, is necessary. For the next two years (until another COP takes place) MEPs suggested fulfilling following key targets: including the values of biodiversity in national accounts, eliminating harmful subsidies for biodiversity, halt deforestation, overfishing and destructive fishing practices, and protecting 20% of land, fresh water and sea areas.

The delegation also discussed the importance of common cooperation between all countries. Only a common agreement can lead to achieving suitable results of the Convention. Furthermore, they highlighted the problematic use of biofuels: "Destroying natural habitats and continued logging of rain forests to make way for biofuel crops are definitely not a solution".

We definitely cannot deny the EU´s effort to preserve nature for future generations. But let´s face the reality. Is it actually feasible to make people prefer nature to the financial profits, which the natural resources may give them? Will fishermen really stop overfishing? Will people ever stop destroying rain forests? How can such a Convention of MEPs change the human approach? Unfortunately the market is unrelenting and although we consider this issue as alarming, people still prefer earning money than respecting nature preservation.

First, the EU should invest in informing and educating people about how the world will look like if the human greed increases, then the measures might work properly. Until then, these proclamations will only remain written on paper.

Claire-Hélène Frileux, Sara Vinklatova

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/en/pressroom/content/20101027IPR90609

http://www.cbd.int/convention/cops.shtml