MONTREAL (Dagbladet): On December 1, the lawyer, merchant and builder of stone houses Gaute Voigt-Hanssen (48) landed in French-speaking Montreal. The goal is to broker a landmark nature deal, in which all countries around the world commit to protecting, restoring and caring for the world’s nature.
– I’m optimistic, but it all depends on how far the parties are prepared to go, Voigt-Hanssen told Dagbladet.
Waiting for the politicians
We meet him in the lobby of the hotel near the UN Nature Secretariat. It’s 6:30 a.m. Canadian time. So early in the morning, it’s not so easy to spot, because it matches perfectly with the Christmas decorated hotel sofa.
– Hello, he smiled softly.
For nearly two weeks, the Norwegian attended meetings, lobbied and negotiated with delegations around the world. There will be long days, preferably 3-4 hour sessions. Last night, at 2:30 p.m., an agreement was reached on certain elements, he said.
– But when it comes to important political issues, there is very little agreement, concludes Voigt-Hanssen.
The objective of the Montreal Nature Summit is to establish binding agreements on how to protect, restore and use nature. Binding agreements, just like the Paris agreement is for the climate.
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