Wash Submit: For the primary time, the US is designating a particular diplomat to advocate for international biodiversity amid what policymakers right here and abroad more and more acknowledge as an extinction disaster. Monica Medina is taking up a brand new function as particular envoy for biodiversity and water sources, the State Division introduced Wednesday. … The appointment underscores the Biden administration’s need to guard land and waters not simply at residence however to additionally preserve habitats overseas. ‘Not nearly nature for nature’s sake’ … Medina famous that the Inflation Discount Act handed this yr put aside billions of {dollars} for conservation funding. … “It’s a disaster that we face that’s interwoven with the local weather disaster, but in addition impartial and necessary by itself,” she mentioned. “If we are able to remedy the biodiversity disaster, we’re a good distance alongside the way in which to fixing the local weather disaster.”
The grift is on! The State Division’s new ‘diplomat for crops & animals’ simply occurs to be the spouse of Biden’s White Home chief of Employees Ron Klain. Think about the coincidence!
By: Marc Morano – Local weather Depot
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/09/29/first-us-appoints-diplomat-plants-animals/
In a primary, U.S. appoints a diplomat for crops and animals
Evaluation by Dino Grandoni with analysis by Vanessa Montalbano
September 29, 2022 at 7:38 a.m. EDT
Good morning and welcome to The Local weather 202! Dino Grandoni, a nationwide surroundings reporter for The Washington Submit, wrote the highest of at the moment’s e-newsletter.
In a primary, U.S. appoints a diplomat for crops and animals
As temperatures rise and habitats shrink, tons of of 1000’s of plant and animal species world wide are prone to vanishing.
For the primary time, the US is designating a particular diplomat to advocate for international biodiversity amid what policymakers right here and abroad more and more acknowledge as an extinction disaster.
Monica Medina is taking up a brand new function as particular envoy for biodiversity and water sources, the State Division introduced Wednesday. She at the moment serves because the division’s assistant secretary for oceans and worldwide environmental and scientific affairs.
The appointment underscores the Biden administration’s need to guard land and waters not simply at residence however to additionally preserve habitats overseas.
‘Not nearly nature for nature’s sake’
The lack of biodiversity isn’t only a tragedy for wildlife. It’s one of many largest threats dealing with humanity.
Based on a serious U.N. report in 2019, one million species face potential extinction, with dire implications for people who rely on ecosystems for meals, contemporary water and different sources. Overfishing, air pollution, pesticides, illness, city sprawl and, in fact, local weather change contribute to declines in imperiled species’ populations worldwide.
“There’s a direct connection between biodiversity loss and instability in numerous elements of the world,” Medina mentioned in a current telephone interview. “It’s not nearly nature for nature’s sake. I believe it’s about individuals.”
Her appointment comes weeks forward of a serious biodiversity convention in mid-December in Montreal. The assembly initially was scheduled to happen within the Chinese language metropolis of Kunming in 2020 however was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.
The purpose of the U.N. Conference on Organic Variety — often known as COP-15 — is for nations to reverse the lack of species by adopting a global framework for conserving biodiversity. The trouble is akin to the local weather talks in 2015 that yielded the Paris settlement.
- What the US needs out of the convention: For nations to decide to conserving 30 % of their land and water space. “We’re in search of methods to succeed in that objective, as a result of that’s what scientists inform us we want with a view to have a wholesome planet,” Medina mentioned.
- One massive hurdle: Defining what, precisely, counts as land and water conserved? “That’s a part of the dialogue, is what counts,” she mentioned.
- Is the US doing its half? President Biden set a objective of conserving almost a 3rd of the nation’s land and waters by 2030.
Biden has taken just a few steps towards that focus on, restoring protections for 2 desert expanses in Utah and reinstating fishing restrictions in a marine monument off New England. Each strikes reversed choices made by President Donald Trump.
However the Biden administration has but to determine many different particular locations for brand new protections. Medina famous that the Inflation Discount Act handed this yr put aside billions of {dollars} for conservation funding.
The hyperlink between biodiversity and local weather change
Rising seas flood forests and kill bushes. Growing temperatures permit for the larger unfold of illness, resembling an avian type of malaria that’s wiping out birds in Hawaii. Warming waters leach out oxygen, suffocating marine life.
However defending ecosystems resembling forests and peatlands, Medina famous, will assist maintain climate-warming carbon out of the ambiance within the first place.
“It’s a disaster that we face that’s interwoven with the local weather disaster, but in addition impartial and necessary by itself,” she mentioned. “If we are able to remedy the biodiversity disaster, we’re a good distance alongside the way in which to fixing the local weather disaster.”
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The grift is on! The State Division’s new ‘diplomat for crops & animals’ simply occurs to be the spouse of Biden’s White Home chief of Employees Ron Klain. Think about the coincidence!
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Actuality Test on Species extinction claims:
Greenpeace co-founder Dr. Patrick Moore on UN species scare: “You can not name your self a scientist in the event you faux that there are 6.2 million species that don’t have any names and have by no means been recognized. That’s not science. That’s fiction. Fairy story tales. And that’s what we’re being informed right here.”
Local weather Depot’s Marc Morano described the report as a politically pushed doc, “the most recent U.N. enchantment to provide it extra energy, extra scientific authority, more cash and extra regulatory management.” “At finest, the U.N. science panels symbolize nothing greater than ‘authoritative paperwork,’ claiming they hype the issue after which provide you with the answer that places them answerable for ‘fixing’ the difficulty in perpetuity,” Mr. Morano mentioned in his ready remarks. “A extra correct time period for the U.N. than ‘authoritative science’ could also be ‘authoritative propaganda.’”
Mr. Huffman fired again, referring to Mr. Morano as a troll. “I don’t know what evokes somebody to make a profession out of trolling scientists or monetizing contrarian ideology on the YouTube and Ted Discuss circuit, nevertheless it’s only a very completely different sort of dialog than the science-based dialog I believe many people would attempt to have,” Mr. Huffman mentioned.
No Home committee listening to this yr could be full and not using a local weather change row. Republicans took purpose on the Inexperienced New Deal, the Paris local weather settlement and the 97% scientific “consensus,” whereas Democrats’ witnesses harassed the impression of world warming on species.
Watch Morano’s opening assertion right here:
Media Issues outraged: Skeptics “[Marc] Morano and [Dr. Patrick] Moore additionally received extra time on the listening to than the 4 scientists invited by the Democrats, in accordance with Public Citizen.”
“Morano and Moore made a mockery of the Home listening to, and that’s precisely what Republicans wished.”
Warmists demand to know: “How did these two dominate a listening to run by Democrats?”
“Fox Information has helped to place Morano and Moore within the public eye by giving them a platform to sow doubt about local weather change and different critical environmental points, and now the 2 males’s newest Fox-worthy rants are a part of the congressional file.”
“To this point in 2019, Morano has appeared on Fox Information reveals at the least 10 occasions…Morano has additionally appeared thrice this yr on President Donald Trump’s favourite present, Fox & Associates.”
Watch: Morano testifies to Congress on how authorities can’t legislate local weather
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