On the occasion of United Nations Day, 24 October 2022, Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), has sent out a plea for action: “The world today is broken. Between poverty, conflict, climate change, biodiversity loss, a post-pandemic reality, and more, it is time for us, as a people, to make a change. We, humankind, are resilient and we can adapt – we have the knowledge and the resources to change the trajectory of our planet and our people. It will take every person, every government, and every business, but together, we can.”
The Executive Secretary added:
“Biodiversity is not confined to the CBD. Biodiversity is intertwined into almost every aspect of our lives and therefore is also linked to every channel and chapter of the United Nations. Many of the Sustainable Development Goals are impacted by biodiversity. The variety of life knows no boundaries and it does not discriminate. Like many of us, the goal and imperative is to thrive.
In less than two months, leaders from around the world will unite for COP 15 in Montreal, Canada and try to change the world as we know it. Parties to the Convention are tasked with transforming our relationship with biodiversity by agreeing on and adopting an ambitious and robust post-2020 global biodiversity framework.
The framework intends to transform how we see and interact with biodiversity and put us on a path to a healthy, sustainable future. But it is also so much more than that. It means to implement poverty reduction strategies, support and facilitate equality for women and girls, youth, indigenous peoples and local communities. It will be a comprehensive roadmap for humankind in its relationship with nature as we continue moving through this decisive decade.”