Public Perception on the United States Ratification of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity Treaty

Abstract

While changes and extinctions have been common phenomena on Earth, however, they are now occurring at an unprecedented rate. The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity is one of the world's greatest global treaties, with 196 nations signing and ratifying it to assure investment and commitment to biological diversity conservation. Since the late 1990s, the United States is the only country in the United Nations that has not ratified the treaty. Employing archival research, the study hopes to gain a better understanding of the factors that influence ratification in other nations. We expect to generate awareness about the issue and bring the convention to the attention of the American people, ultimately persuading policymakers to ratify the treaty. To understand the public perception of US residents and increase awareness about it, a cross-sectional surveying analysis is used. Ultimately, the goal is to increase awareness among policymakers and the public by providing a holistic examination of the UN CBD and biological diversity.

Keywords: Biodiversity, United Nations, United States, Climate Change, Global Warming, Pollution, Policy, Conservation, Treaty, Ratification, Environment, Public, Perception, Convention