Comment on UN biodiversity conference, CBD COP15

Matt Williams, land use analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, said: "As we approach the halfway point through this conference, world leaders haven't turned up. It's lacking the political stardust that the climate talks in Egypt had thanks to them. But there are still signs that it could result in an ambitious new nature deal for 2030 - which is critical to ensuring that peatlands and forests can help tackle climate change.

"The UK's previous stature as an international nature leader may be coming under pressure at a critical moment in the talks. It has just given the green light to a new coal mine, a decision quickly noted as a regressive step after the UK led calls to consign coal to history when it hosted COP26 last year. Coupled with delays rolling out a new farming system, and drift on tree planting and peat restoration, the UK could quickly go from nature and climate leader to laggard."