Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure to address this event on the International Day for Biological Diversity.
We are now five months ahead of the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Yet, the triple planetary crisis facing humanity, continues to deepen.
? Global temperatures are projected to rise by up to 3.2°C by 2100.
? 25% of animal and plant species are threatened with extinction.
? Oceans are getting warmer and more acid. Coral reefs and mangroves are at the risk of mass die-off.
? Ten million hectares of forest are destroyed, and forest fires burn approximately 450 million hectares of land every year.
? Water scarcity may displace 700 million people by 2030.
Clearly, urgent action is needed.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that nature is connected to human health, global peace, and the stability of our socioeconomic systems.
We rely on nature and biodiversity for:
? freshwater,
? clean air,
? nutritious food,
? medicine,
? energy, and
? a stable climate that sustains our life.
However, pollution, overfishing, over-exploitation, climate change, and unsustainable consumption and production have resulted in biodiversity loss and degradation.
Instead of being part of the problem, we must become a part of the solution —as stated by this year’s theme.
Biodiversity underpins all the Sustainable Development Goals. That is why loss of biodiversity undermines our efforts in combating climate change, ocean conservation, water and food security. It also imperils advancement of the SDGs related to health, jobs, energy and sustainable communities.
The upcoming CBD COP15 in Kunming will be a pivotal moment. The international community will come together to renew their commitments to tackle the biodiversity crisis, and bring us closer to the 2050 Vision of Living in Harmony with Nature. It will also be the first of the three major global conferences – originally envisaged for the “Super Year of Nature” – to take place in 2020. The outcome of the CBD COP15 is expected to set a positive tone for the UNFCCC COP26 in Glasgow, and the UN Ocean Conference in Lisbon.
In this connection, synergies among international efforts and relevant processes are key. The post 2020 global biodiversity framework – to be adopted at COP15 – will be critical for coherent nature-based solutions to address the interconnected crises. That is why aligning it with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and the UN Strategic Plan for Forests, will be important.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As the host country of CBD COP15 and a mega-biodiversity country, China has led by example. Its efforts to preserve biodiversity and restore ecosystem services, are guided by its vision of “Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth”.
I am confident that under your leadership, we will have a successful CBD COP15 that advances global efforts to rebuild our relationship with nature.
Let us meet in Kunming with higher ambition, new commitments and concrete actions to save our planet and create a better future for all.
I thank you.