Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said Bangladesh wants friendly relations with all. But we have to do everything necessary to protect the independence and sovereignty of this country. Bangladesh is always ready and determined to protect it's sovereignty from any aggressive external attack. She said this while inaugurating Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Battery Complex at the Artillery Centre and School at Halishahar in Chattogram today ( 21 April). Sheikh Hasina said she hoped that the members of Bangladesh Army would work with patriotism, professionalism and devotion being imbued with the spirit of the Liberation War. With the united efforts of all, we will be able to build a hunger-poverty-free and happy-prosperous Sonar Bangla as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib. The Awami League government has been working relentlessly to achieve the sustainable development goals by 2030 and build a developed and prosperous smart Bangladesh by 2041, she added.

The European Union has bledged billion of dollars to embrace the idea of a "blue economy" to protect the world's oceans from damage caused by human activity. The European Union has pledged €3.5 billion ($3.71 billion) to protect the world's oceans and promote sustainability through a series of initiatives this year, the EU's top environment official said on Tuesday. Virginijus Sinkevicius, the European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, said the "ocean is part of who were are, and it is our responsibility" while announcing the initiatives at the "Our Ocean" conference in Athens. The annual conference, attended by about 120 countries, include supporting 14 investments and one reform in sustainable fisheries in Cyprus, Greece, Poland, Portugal worth about €1.9 billion. Another €980 million under the EU's Recovery and Resilience Facility will be used in in Cyprus, Finland, Greece, Italy and Spain's to support four investments and two reforms to fight marine pollution. The aim of the conference is to promote and support the idea of the "blue economy" which the World Bank defines as “sustainable use of ocean resources to benefit economies, livelihoods and ocean ecosystem health.” Greece strongly embraces idea given its location Greece, which includes thousands of islands and which has the longest Mediterranean coastline of any littoral state, also plans to present its national strategy on marine biodiversity protection at the conference. The European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service said last month that ocean temperatures hit a record high in February, in a dataset that goes back to 1979. Overfishing and plastic pollution are also major threats to oceans. Plastics entering the world's oceans could nearly triple by 2040 if no further action is taken, research has shown. 

Awami League chief PM Sheikh Hasina has pledged to make arrangements so that journalists do not face torture, intimidation or false cases, if her party is elected in the next general election on January 7.   “As per the newly enacted law, the Cyber Security Act, the privacy and information of individuals will be protected, and appropriate measures will continue to be taken to prevent misuse,” she said while announcing the party's election manifesto at a Dhaka hotel on Wednesday (Dec 27). She said financial and medical assistance to journalists will be further extended under the Journalist Welfare Trust, while the process of forming the 10th Wage Board for journalists is underway. Sheikh Hasina said her government has ensured the free flow of information and freedom of media. “In the 1996-2001 tenure, we were the first to open television and radio to the private sector,” she told. Mass media has developed tremendously in the last 15 years, and the number of newspapers in the country is now 3,241, while 33 private TV channels, 23 FM radio channels and 18 community radio stations are currently broadcasting, she added.  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (Dec 4, 2023) said the rivers have to be saved to protect the country.   "We have to save our rivers if we want to save Bangladesh," she said. "We have to do dredging and maintain navigability. We have to go for river dredging to stop erosion," the premier said.   The Premier was speaking at a meeting on the presentation of the survey report and the policy decision for the adoption of the related project in the light of the master plan designed to prevent pollution and protect the navigability of the rivers around Dhaka at the cabinet room of her office. "We have to do dredging and maintain navigability. We have to go for river dredging to stop erosion," the premier said.   PM Sheikh Hasina said after assuming power, the aim of her government was to protect the rivers, maintain its navigability and save those from pollution.   PM recalled that during the first tenure of her government, river dredging started and the silts was used for land reclamation.   "We have to do dredging and maintain navigability. We have to go for river dredging to stop erosion," she added.   In the name of river training, once it was normal phenomena to build embankments that had heavy toll on the fertile crop lands, the PM said.   She added that the industries that are constructed beside the rivers usually dump its wastes in the rivers.   "All waste of the sewerage lines also goes to the rivers resulting in increasing pollution," she said.   The Premier said it is very much painful that bad smell comes from the Buriganga River due to pollution.   "Whatever we do, we have to keep in mind first the waste management," she added.   Sheikh Hasina also opted to set up small treatment plants in different parts of Dhaka city to save the rivers around the capital.   For river training, she said the depth of a river has to be considered. "And we must have to create a buffer zone beside the river aiming to preserve the rainwater during monsoon," PM further told.   The Head of the Government also put emphasis on coordinated efforts of all concerned authorities for any development plan keeping in mind the preservation of the environment.   "Since, I came to power, I asked everyone to sketch plan for all cities. Whatever plan we take there should be wastage management and flow of water has to be maintained properly," she said.   She added it is very regrettable that the country's development programmes did not take place in a planned way in the past. "It didn't happen in the Pakistan period and even, after 1975, the illegal state power grabbers, who came through violating the constitution with arms, did not pay attention to overall coordinated and planned development of the country", she continued.   As a result, the environmental issues were neglected and the rivers were also encroached, PM Sheikh Hasina said.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Environment Minister Steffi Lemke signed High Seas Treaty on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. The UN adopted the treaty in June as the basis for the designation of large environmentally-protected areas on maritime areas that fall outside the control of individual countries. What the two ministers said Baerbock said the treaty was "a glimmer of hope for the world's oceans, a glimmer of hope for the people of this world, but also a glimmer of hope for the United Nations." She said the high seas had previously been "de facto a lawless area," but added, "That's changing now." Lemke, who like Baerbock is a lawmaker for the Green Party, described the signing as a "historic day for the protection of the seas." The environment minister welcomed the fact that there are now, for the first time, rules to protect biodiversity in the world's oceans. "We depend on healthy oceans to combat the climate crisis, the pollution crisis and the species extinction crisis," explained Lemke. "Protected areas on the high seas" must now be designated "quickly in order to place 30% of the world's oceans under strict protection." Joining the two politicians for the ceremony was Germany's Federal Government Commissioner for the Sea, Sebastian Unger. What is the High Seas Treaty? For the first time, the international agreement provides protection for areas outside the exclusive economic zones of individual countries. The treaty stipulates that activities such as the extraction of mineral resources on the high seas must be preceded by an assessment of their environmental consequences. More than 60% of maritime areas are outside such exclusive economic zones. To date, protection rules of varying degrees have only applied to a small part of these marine areas. Germany was among dozens of countries to become a signatory to the treaty on Wednesday, the first day that the text for the freshly-ratified document became available. The UN said 67 countries had signed the treaty on the same day, including the United States, China, Australia, Britain France, Mexico and the European Union as a whole.

Bangladesh has urged international community to scale up global actions including climate financing for protecting persons displaced by climate change and associated disaster. Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen made the call while speaking at a panel discussion organized by IOM during its 2023 International Dialogue on Migration held at the United Nations Headquarters on Friday, according to a press release received here today. The foreign secretary also called upon development partners to extend financial support for implementing the recently launched Bangladesh's national adaptation plan 2023-2050. "The recently adopted UN General Assembly Resolution requesting for an advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on obligations of States in respect of climate change recognizes the link between climate change and displacement of affected persons," he said. Masud shared various initiatives undertaken by the Bangladesh government in addressing the impact of climate change including the Eighth Five Year Plan' incorporating action point to address the environment, climate change adaptation and mitigation, establishment of Climate Change Trust Fund and launching of 'Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan'. "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has also undertaken the biggest housing project for climate migrants in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, the "Khurushkul Special Ashrayan Project", he added. Earlier on the day, the foreign secretary held a bilateral meeting with Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Department of Peace Operations at the United Nations Headquarters. During the meeting, Lacroix thanked Bangladesh for serving the UN peacekeeping operations as the top troops and police contributing country with dignity, sincerity and high professionalism. Masud requested Under-Secretary-General (USG) to appoint more officers from Bangladesh in the Department of Peace Operations. In return, USG assured to work more closely with Bangladesh in this regard. Permanent Representative Muhammad Abdul Muhith accompanied the foreign secretary in the meeting.

More than 500 Pakistani physicians in the US have signed a letter for US lawmakers, sharing their concerns about threats to the safety of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. “These are not just PTI supporters. These are physicians from different social and political backgrounds,” claimed Atif Khan, adviser to the PTI chairman on overseas affairs. “There’s only one common factor: all of them are worried about Imran Khan’s safety.” Another group called Pak PAC (Public Affairs Committee), which usually campaigns in the US Congress on community issues, has also circulated a similar letter, expressing concerns about the current political situation in Pakistan. Both groups have urged their members to send letters to their local lawmakers as well to chairpersons of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Local PTI groups in Virginia and other states are also drafting a similar letter, which they plan to send to US lawmakers and senior members of the Biden administration. “We are writing to urgently bring to your attention the critical situation in Pakistan. The safety and well-being of millions of citizens, including our families and loved ones, are at risk due to the current government’s human rights violations, suppression of dissent, and threats to the safety of former PM Imran Khan,” says the letter the physicians wrote. Urging the lawmakers to address their concerns, the physicians wrote: “We believe that the current situation in Pakistan demands immediate attention and action to prevent the country from sinking into another decade of military rule and darkness.” As Pakistani-American citizens, “we are seeking your support to ensure that the voices of the Pakistani people are heard, and their human rights are protected”. Explaining why they want US lawmakers to focus on Pakistan’s domestic politics, the physicians argued: “We believe that with the support of the international community, we can prevent the country from falling into an abyss of darkness.” “We urge you to take immediate action and work with the international community to protect the human rights of all citizens in Pakistan.” The PAK PAC letter said that media reports of human rights violations by the Pakistani government had alarmed them, and they want US lawmakers to use their influence to stop Pakistani rulers from “torturing and abusing” PTI workers and to end the siege of Imran Khan’s home in Lahore. Assad Chaudhry, a founding member of another group called the American Pakistani Public Affairs Committee (APPAC), however, urged all political parties in Pakistan to show maturity. “Imran Khan can play a vital role to strengthen the political system and economic revival,” he said. “We need tolerance and coexistence.” Source: Dawn

In a joint statement, US authorities said they would work to protect depositors, and losses would not be borne by the taxpayer. President Biden said he would make a further statement on Monday morning. US Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen, Federal Reserve Board Chair Jerome H. Powell, and FDIC Chairman Martin J. Gruenberg released a joint statement Sunday that they will complete the resolution of the Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) whilst protecting depositors. "Depositors will have access to all of their money starting Monday, March 13. No losses associated with the resolution of Silicon Valley Bank will be borne by the taxpayer," they said in a joint statement. The reason authorities believe the taxpayer will incur no cost is that authorities administrating the bank will be able to use its remaining assets to cover the costs of reimbursing depositors. The same will also apply to Signature Bank. On Sunday, the New York State Chartering Authority closed down the cryptocurrency-exposed lender that had lost around a third of its share price value in the second half of the week.  President Joe Biden told reporters on Sunday that he would speak at more length on the issue early on Monday. On Friday, US regulators pulled the plug on SVB in the largest bank failure since the 2008/9 financial crisis after a sudden run on deposits. Meanwhile, in the UK, reports of several interested suitors in the bank's British subsidiary emerged late on Sunday, shortly before the markets reopen on Monday. What else did Yellen say? The statement said senior management would be removed, and shareholders and certain unsecured debt holders would not be protected. The Federal Reserve Board also said it would make available "additional funding to eligible depository institutions to help assure banks have the ability to meet the needs of all their depositors." FDIC insures deposits up to $250,000 (roughly €235,000), but many of the companies and wealthy people who used the bank had more than that amount in their accounts. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told Fox News he hoped that Silicon Valley Bank would ultimately be bought. "I think that would be the best outcome to move forward and cool the markets and let people understand that we can move forward in the right manner," he said. US banking system 'resilient' China and Hong Kong stocks rose on Monday, after the news of US authorities stepping in to limit the fall of SVB. The blue-chip CSI 300 Index and Hong Kong's Hang Seng benchmark were up more than 0.5% each in early morning trade. Japan's Nikkei was down by 1.6%. Yellen tried to reassure those concerned about a possible domino effect from the failure of SVB. She insisted that the US banking system was safer than during the financial crisis almost 15 years ago, which led to several bank bailouts. "The American banking system is really safe and well capitalized," Yellen said. "It's resilient." Following the 2008 failure of Lehman Brothers and the ensuing financial meltdown, US regulators required major banks to hold additional capital in case of trouble.  But some analysts have warned that some regional US banks could be in trouble, as was demonstrated by Signature Bank's closure on Sunday.  Crypto exchange Bitstamp said it would continue to operate normally despite the closure of Signature Bank. Coinbase said on Twitter they expected to fully recover $240 million (€223 million) balance in corporate cash at Signature. What was Silicon Valley Bank? SVB was little known to the public but was a key lender to technology startups in the US and globally and had strong relationships with venture capital firms. By the end of 2022, it had become the 16th largest US bank by assets, with $209 billion in assets and approximately $175.4 billion in deposits. However, the bank was impacted by the US central bank's aggressive interest rate hikes in the last year, which crimped financial conditions in the startup space. Many of SVB's assets, such as bonds or mortgage-backed securities, lost market value as rates climbed. Then its customers — largely technology companies that needed cash as they struggled to get financing —  started withdrawing their deposits. The bank had to sell bonds at a loss to cover the withdrawals. HSBC to buy SVB's UK branch  Sky News reported that SVB's UK branch would be bought by HSBC Holdings, adding that Britain's finance ministry would be releasing a statement about this soon. Other British institutions such as the Bank of London and OakBank North had earlier expressed interest in buying the branch as well. Lloyds Banking Group and NatWest Group were said to have been approached about a possible emergency takeover. The Bank of England has said that it will seek a court order to place SVB's UK branch into insolvency. In the US, observers at technology news site "The Information" say it is unlikely that big banks like JPMorgan or Bank of America will join in the race to take over SVP, noting that it is more plausible that smaller regional banks like PNC Financial, US Bank, Trust or Capital One would look to get involved. Further impacts elsewhere in the world Governments around the world said they were trying to find solutions to limit the potential hit to companies from the collapse of SVB, which has subsidiaries in Canada, Europe and a joint venture in China. The state minister for technology in India said Sunday he will meet startups this week to assess the impact on them of the collapse. The South Asian country has one of the world's biggest startup markets, with many clocking multi-billion-dollar valuations in recent years and backed by foreign investors. "[I] spoke to some founders and it is very bad," Ashish Dave, CEO of Mirae Asset Venture Investments (India), wrote in a tweet. "Especially for Indian founders... who set up their US companies and raised their initial round, SVB is default bank. Uncertainty is killing them. Growth ones are relatively safer as they diversified. Last thing founders needed." German business daily Handelsblatt said SVB had 3,600 customers in Europe. Around 10% of them were said to come from Germany. Meanwhile, Israel's Supervisor of Banks Yair Avidan said it was closely monitoring for "immediate developments" from the collapse as well for those that could happen in the future. Israel's tech sector is the country's main growth engine and its relationship with the Silicon Valley region is strong. Many Israel-based startups had accounts at SVB, although the amounts are not fully known.

While the high seas make up over 60% of the world's oceans, they have long drawn less attention than coastal waters. The UN treaty aims to change that by attempting to ensure the sustainable use of ocean biodiversity. Vast parts of the world's oceans are still the Wild West when it comes to conservation. But that might be about to change. After five rounds of protracted UN-led negotiations, negotiators from over 100 countries have agreed on a legally binding agreement to protect the high seas. The treaty aims to conserve and ensure the sustainable use of ocean biodiversity, a move that has been welcomed by environmental groups who believe it will help reverse marine biodiversity losses and promote sustainable development. The agreement was reached a day after the original deadline in New York on Saturday. The consensus was finally achieved after more than 15 years of discussions, including four years of formal talks and the third so-called final negotiating session in less than a year. The UN conference president, Rena Lee, expressed her satisfaction with the outcome, saying, "The ship has reached the shore," which was met with applause from the attending delegates. This long-awaited step marks a significant turning point in the effort to protect the high seas and preserve marine life. The treaty is expected to contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of marine resources, while also protecting the rights and interests of all countries involved. Fishing, shipping, tourism and ocean protection are currently controlled by around 20 organizations. However, their regulations only apply to a distance of 200 nautical miles (370 kilometers) from the coast. Farther out, international waters start, and individual states don't have any power or say.  Although the high seas make up more than half of the surface of the Earth and 61% of all oceans, only 1% of international waters are under protection. Illegal fishing, overfishing and other forms of damage to the ecosystem, such as deep-sea mining, oil and gas drilling, can hardly be monitored, tracked or prosecuted in a consistent way. Conservationists hope the treaty will help fulfill the international obligation to protect 30% of the world's oceans by 2030, as agreed by a landmark deal in December 2022. "The Global Oceans Treaty agreed on today is the biggest conservation agreement in the history of the world. It provides a pathway to establish marine sanctuaries so that countries can turn their commitment to protect 30% of the ocean by 2030 into a reality," Arlo Hemphill, Greenpeace USA’s senior oceans campaigner, said in a statement.  "This is the minimum scientists have said we need to prevent ecosystem collapse in the oceans — our greatest shared resource and the foundation of life on this planet," he added. Why is a healthy underwater world so important for humans and our planet? The resources of the ocean don't just sustain coast dwellers, but almost 3 billion people worldwide. The entire sea industry has a worth of $3 trillion (€2.8 trillion) — that's 5% of the world's gross domestic product. The ocean isn't just important for beach tourists and fishers. We also need it in order to generate sustainable wave and tidal energy, as well as for the production of commodities and even medicine.  Some agents used to fight leukemia, for instance, are derived from a shallow water sponge called Tectitethya crypta, which can be found in the waters of the Caribbean. The poison of the fish-eating sea snail Conus magus is being used to develop an effective painkiller. Many similar possibilities have yet to be explored, but scientists see a huge potential for the treatment of diseases.    Why climate change is stressful for oceans More than half of the total amount of oxygen in our atmosphere is created by creatures in the ocean. At the same time, oceans store 50 times more carbon dioxide than what's currently found in our atmosphere. The warmer the ocean gets, the less CO2 it can store. It's a vicious cycle: the warmer it gets, the less our oceans can protect the planet from even more extreme weather events. If temperatures keep increasing at their current speed, scientists believe many shellfish such as mussels and snails will not survive. That's due to ocean acidification: if the CO2 content in the seawater increases, the PH level in the water changes. The increasing acidity hampers the creation of the chalky shells of the animals. This throws entire biospheres off-balance, and could threaten entire economic sectors, such as the breeding of oysters and mussels. The rising temperatures in the atmosphere triggered by the burning of coal, oil and gas also change ocean currents as the water gets warmer. This can already mean death for many creatures, such as corals. Corals live in symbiosis with colorful algae which help feed them. The warming of the water can lead to algae death, which means more stress for corals, leading to many losing their color, which is also known as coral bleaching. How can we protect ocean ecosystems? If nothing changes, half of all sea dwellers will be critically endangered by the end of this century, according to estimates by UNESCO. This doesn't necessarily mean we can't use the ocean any longer. It just means we have to use it in a way that doesn't harm it, or at least only harms it to the extent that it can regenerate on its own.   Every year, we toss away 10 million tons of fish — that could fill more than 4,500 swimming pools — because of bad fishing practices and processing. This could be prevented, and in turn directly decrease pressure on our oceans. Another example: sewage. Around 80% of global wastewater is currently being diverted into oceans, unfiltered. In the poorest countries of the world it's even up to 95%. This wastewater pollutes, contaminates and destroys oceans and coastal regions. Building sustainable sewage systems, especially in developing countries, would protect ocean ecosystems and contribute to better drinking water supplies in many places.        Will a new treaty help? According to the UN's environment program, international treaties are one of the best ways to stop the destruction of oceans.  Many treaties have been signed in recent years regarding the protection of coastal regions. Some have already had a positive effect on the environment; many, however, have not been able to reach their goals. That has to do with the fact that agreements are always dependent on national parliaments turning them into laws, and allocating enough resources to institutions and projects so the goals can be reached.  The EU is pushing for the implementation of the historic 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Part of this historic agreement is to put 30% of the globe under protection until 2030. Meanwhile, 18 developing and emerging nations are pushing for the introduction of a mechanism that guarantees the fair distribution of ocean resources.

Global leaders have agreed to protect and restore a third of the Earth's natural areas, and eliminate or redirect $500 billion from environmentally harmful subsidies to fund the deal. In a landmark deal, more than 190 nations have agreed a plan to protect and restore 30% of the Earth's oceans and land by 2030 to stave off the threat of mass plant and animal extinction. Though not legally binding, it's "the largest agreement to protect land and sea in history," said Brian O'Donnell, director of Campaign for Nature, which lobbied to expand protected areas in the lead up to the conference.   The Chinese-brokered deal to protect ecosystems and halt biodiversity decline "provides some hope that the crisis facing nature is starting to get the attention it deserves," O'Donnell added.   Struck in the early hours of Monday morning after two weeks of fraught negotiations at the COP15 United Nations Biodiversity Conference, the "historic" Kunming-Montreal deal agreed to reduce the risks to biodiversity from pesticide use. It also aims to combat invasive species, and protect the rights of Indigenous peoples as guardians of local ecosystems — a key demand from activists.  Officials also agreed to redirect hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of subsidies that support environmentally harmful industries and to allocate more money to combat species extinction.  "The global community now has a roadmap for the protection and restoration of nature and its sustainable use — for present and future generations," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement.   Canada's Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault, who was hosting the conference in Montreal, compared the outcome to the UN's historic 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, wherein nations agreed to keep global heating below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit). "It is truly a moment that will go down in history, as Paris was for climate," said Guilbeault.   Life on Earth depends on rich biodiversity  Human activities, like clearing of habitat for agriculture, are the main drivers of massive decline in plant and animal species on Earth. Scientists have predicted that 75% of the world's biodiversity could disappear in just a few centuries – in a phenomenon being called the "sixth mass extinction." The consequences of such losses are severe, complex and wide-reaching. In addition to threatening food security and water sources, it also worsens climate change by taking away the Earth's natural carbon sinks, such as peatlands and tropical forests. These sinks suck carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and prevent it from further heating the planet.  Currently, less than 17% of the world's land areas and 10% of the world's oceans are officially protected. If countries stick to the deal, it has the potential to protect wildlife, help combat the climate crisis, and safeguard ecosystems that are vital for life on Earth. "Moose, sea turtles, parrots, rhinos, rare ferns and ancient trees, butterflies, rays and dolphins are among the millions of species whose survival and populations will be greatly improved if this agreement is effectively implemented," O'Donnell said.  Protecting nature would safeguard the economy too, according to the World Economic Forum. Around $44 trillion (€42 trillion) — 50% of the world's economic output — is dependent on nature-based industries, said the organization.  COP15 deal almost failed over financing difficulties  A "peace pact with nature" was the COP15 motto. And for that to happen, negotiators needed to figure out where the money would come from to fund a robust deal. Like the COP27 climate talks in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, in November, financing was a major roadblock for global leaders who went into overtime trying to reach a compromise.  Dozens of Global South nations, including Brazil, India, Indonesia and many African countries that are home to particularly biodiverse and valuable ecosystems, demanded $100 billion per year, or 1% of global GDP, by 2030 to pay for habitat protection and restoration, considerably more than what is in the pot now.  "We see a market emerging where countries of the South say that they will not commit to strong ambitions without seeing corresponding funding," said Sebastian Treyer, executive director of the think tank IDDRI.   Rich countries to pay $30 billion annually into a new fund  Wealthy nations rejected a request from developing countries of the G77 group to create a special biodiversity fund, arguing that money could flow faster and more effectively through existing mechanisms. As a compromise, a fund will be created under the Global Environment Facility, a 30-year-old environmental organization. Rich countries, such as those in the EU, are to pay $20 billion into the fund starting in 2025, and $30 billion from 2030. The money will come from both public and private sources.   However, critics say it isn't yet clear how the money will be used and where it would have the greatest impact. This risks wasting resources, said Lina Barrera from Conservation International — something "we don't have time for" she said.   Businesses will also only be asked to report on the impact of their activities on biodiversity and will not be obliged to do so, as many had called for.  The agreement also fails to specify targets for species protection by 2050, critics said. Instead it states that the human-induced extinction of threatened species should be stopped, and that extinction rates must be reduced tenfold.  Subsidizing environmentally harmful industries a key threat to biodiversity  Reducing the subsidies given to industries that harm the environment was also a crucial part of the COP15 negotiations. Each year, around $1.8 trillion is handed out to make gasoline and kerosene cheaper for buyers, according to the Earth Track think tank. A further $470 billion goes towards polluting, industrial agriculture and distorts the real cost of food and other products, according to the United Nations.  Global leaders agreed to redirect $500 billion worth of these subsidies by 2030.  "Now the hard work begins. It's time to make good on the promises made in Montreal and ensure that the targets in the framework are met," said Barrera from Conservation International. "With 1 million species at risk of extinction there is no time to waste."