22/09/2010
Secretariat of the Convention on Biological
Diversity / United Nations Environment Programme
With the continued
loss of biodiversity representing a major
obstacle for achieving the Millennium Development
Goals, the UN General Assembly will consider
strategies for speeding up the implementation
of measures to protect and conserve species
and ecosystems around the world.
The one-day high-level
meeting, on 22 September, taking place during
the International Year of Biodiversity and
coinciding with the conclusion of the Summit
on the Millennium Development Goals, comes
at a time when studies show that as a result
of human activities, species are being lost
at a rate that is estimated to be up to
100 times the natural rate of extinction.
The high-level biodiversity
meeting aims to spur action by Member States,
together with the United Nations and other
intergovernmental organizations to consider,
"on the basis of the latest science,
the status and trends of biodiversity, the
risks that the continued loss of biodiversity
represent for human well-being, development
and security, and the necessary strategies
and measures to reduce such risks".
Populations of wild
vertebrate species fell by an average of
nearly one third globally between 1970 and
2006, according to the Global Biodiversity
Outlook 3 report issued earlier this year,
with the sharpest loss occurring in the
tropics. In the past century, 35 per cent
of mangroves, 40 per cent of forests and
50 per cent of wetlands have been lost.
The change in the abundance and distribution
of species, compounded by climate change,
has serious consequences for human societies
and is moving ecosystems ever closer to
thresholds, or "tipping points",
beyond which their services will be seriously
undermined.
"This is an important
moment for countries to focus on reversing
the loss of our biodiversity", says
UN General Assembly President Joseph Diess.
"We can no longer ignore the continuing
destruction of the ecosystems that not only
provide us with material services such as
food, medicine and carbon sinks, but also
sustain humanity in our spiritual and emotional
wellbeing. Fortunately, strategies exist
for protecting and preserving our planet's
rich biodiversity. We now need countries
to implement these strategies."
The UN Convention on
Biological Diversity, which has been signed
and ratified by almost all Member States,
has played an important role in developing
approaches to address biodiversity. However,
implementation has lagged, and the world
did not meet the 2010 target for reducing
the loss of biodiversity.
Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive
Secretary of the Convention on Biological
Diversity, said the General Assembly meeting
would provide an important boost for the
Convention's upcoming 10th meeting of the
Conference of the Parties (COP-10) in Nagoya,
Japan, next month. COP-10, he said, is expected
to adopt a new strategic plan for 2011-2020,
including a 2020 biodiversity target and
a 2050 biodiversity vision.
Djoghlaf said that meeting
the challenge of the continuous loss of
biodiversity compounded by climate change
requires unprecedented coordinated efforts
at all levels with the full engagement of
all the stakeholders without any exception.
"The unprecedented New York Biodiversity
Summit is a clear demonstration of the will
of the leaders of the world to provide leadership
and to lead by example in ensuring that
our common planet will continue providing
its necessary goods and services for the
benefit of present and future generations."
+ More
Statement by Izabella
Teixeira at the opening of the United Nations
meeting
22/09/2010
Statement by H.E. Ms. Izabella Teixeira,
Minister of the Environment, at the opening
session of the United Nations General Assembly
High-Level Meeting as a contribution to
the International Year of Biodiversity
Your Excellency the
President of the General Assembly, Your
Excellency the Secretary-General, Excellencies,
ladies and gentlemen,
In 2006, Brazil hosted
the 8th Conference of the Parties to the
Convention on Biological Diversity. For
us, that initiative was steeped in political
and symbolic meaning, given the enormous
responsibility Brazil has towards biodiversity.
As a Megadiverse country, Brazil is aware
of the strategic value of biodiversity,
and of the attention and urgency we should
dedicate to it.
Most scientists, politicians,
business people and the civil society understand
the role of biodiversity as the basis for
sustainability. For no other purpose did
the General Assembly adopt a resolution
declaring 2010 the International Year of
Biodiversity, and for no other reason we
meet here today. This is definitely the
time to transform our words and political
discussions into action.
We should pave the way
for a more sustainable society, since what
we have at present is quite a disturbing
picture: We have been unable to reduce the
rate or the speed of the loss of biodiversity,
as set out in the 2002 Johannesburg Plan
of Implementation. Not only has there been
an absence of relevant signs of reduction
of biodiversity loss, but indicators portray
a growing deterioration of biodiversity
worldwide.
One of the key messages
of the 2005 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
is that, over the past century, certain
economic sectors have benefited from the
conversion of natural ecosystems and the
exploitation of biodiversity. But these
gains were achieved at the cost of increasing
losses to biodiversity, degradation of ecosystem
services and increase and spread of poverty.
We need strong and determined
responses and political will to change this
scenario - in particular in the run-up to
the Rio+20 Conference. The conservation
and sustainable use of biological resources
are crucial not only to ensure continued
benefits to local and indigenous communities,
but also to create opportunities for sustainable
development and poverty eradication for
all.
Brazil is doing its
part. According to the latest Global Biodiversity
Outlook, Brazil was one of the few countries
that contributed to clear up this picture.
Under President Lula's leadership, Brazil
has achieved significant results: we have
created the greatest number of new protected
areas in recent years, and we have managed
to reduce to historical lows the deforestation
rates in the Amazon region. But much remains
to be done.
I should highlight the
important outcome we reached in South Korea
for the establishment of the Intergovernmental
Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services
(IPBES). By creating the adequate links
between science, policymaking and capacity
building through the provision of credible
and relevant information on biodiversity
and ecosystem services, IPBES will improve
our understanding of the need for immediate
action against the loss of biodiversity
- as well as the consequences of inaction.
The lasting success
of our efforts rests on decisions to be
taken at the 10th Conference of the Parties
of the CBD, in Nagoya. We have been negotiating
a Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing
which is fundamental to overcome the implementation
deficit of the Convention and to combat
biopiracy. We have been discussing a new
Strategic Plan for the period post-2010,
and a new Strategy for Resource Mobilization.
A central part of our future efforts must
include support for national agendas to
reach targets on biodiversity, ensuring
country ownership and supported by predictable,
additional and sufficient resources and
technology.
These three elements
- the Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing,
the Strategic Plan and the new Strategy
for Resource Mobilization - are part of
an indivisible package for COP-10. They
should be considered, discussed and negotiated
with the attention and urgency that the
matter deserves.
If there is one reason
for discussing the issue of biodiversity
in such a high level perspective, as we
are doing here today, that should be to
rescue the spirit of the Rio-92 Conference,
that led us to significant results such
as the adoption of the CBD. I call on all
to renew that same sentiment of commitment,
of political will, and of ethical-moral
responsibility for the well-being of current
and future generations.
We need a deal in Nagoya.
And the news that we got from Montreal are
a sign that we are quite far from a deal.
There are some countries that are not fully
committed to an agreement on ABS At this
High-Level Meeting, we should raise the
profile of biodiversity and galvanize the
political will and engagement of all countries
in support of this call to action.
Thank you.
