French President Emmanuel Macron says he will pressure the US to sign a charter on protecting biodiversity at the G7 summit in Biarritz, France.
"We have talked about diversity. It is for the first time, at this G7, that we will sign a charter for biodiversity, we are committed to this, it will be signed by all," he told news website Konbini.
Asked whether this would include the US, Macron said, "that is the real question, we will see, I will put pressure".
"It will be signed by India, which is also very important," he added.
French President Emmanuel Macron with US President Donald Trump. Source: NurPhoto
Macron said climate, global warming and biodiversity would be at the heart of the G7 meeting, but he also called on individual citizens to live and consume responsibly.
"We are all co-responsible for this, in the choices we make when we buy clothing and food, in our everyday behaviour when it comes to sorting (and recycling).
"The G7 is one thing, but our daily life is just as important," he said.
After meeting scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Macron said in May he would bring up the issue of biodiversity in talks within the G7.
French President Emmanuel Macron. Source: AFP
He said at the time that his government would seek to increase the size of natural areas under protection and take tax and budget measures to support biodiversity.
He added that he also wants the EU to encourage financing of sustainable crops as part of its common agriculture policy.
IPBES - which groups 130 countries, including the US, Russia and China - said in a report released in May that one million animal and plant species are at risk of extinction due to humans' relentless pursuit of economic growth.
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