#WorldEnvironmentDay Interview with FAO and UNEP Directors in Brussels
On June 5, we celebrate World Environment Day, while the world is going through an unprecedented crisis. Biodiversity and the environment are threatened. Could you give us in two sentences what your respective organizations are doing about it?
Rodrigo de Lapuerta, FAO Director in Brussels: The COVID-19 emergency is a global warning which we hope – despite the casualties in both lives and livelihoods – can act as a catalyst to pursue more creative and inclusive paths to a happier future. FAO reacted fast to the emergency and has been at the forefront to protect the most vulnerable and keep global food supply chains alive. COVID-19 shows us how the world is so small and interconnected, exactly the same as it happens with climate change and the protection of natural resources. We need to rethink collectively how we want to improve our food systems to ensure sustainable management of our natural resources and prevent pandemics like the current COVID-19.
We just launched, for the first time ever together with UN Environment Programme, the State of the World’s Forests report, looking specifically into the state of biodiversity in the world’s forests. Forests cover most of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity and here we are talking about large and vital for the survival of the entire planet ecosystems. Only a year ago we published a report that examined the State of the World’s Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture. Agriculture’s own function and resilience depends on biodiversity to support pollination services, water cycling, soil and erosion controls. Protecting biodiversity is not only important for the environment, it is also a pre-condition for more diverse, healthy, balanced and nutritious diets.
Most recently, you may know that FAO has developed a strategy for mainstreaming biodiversity both between and within the agricultural sectors in a coherent and coordinated manner. So, our work for caring and analyzing biodiversity goes a long way back. Integrating biodiversity related concerns into agricultural policies, programmes and activities, has always been part of our mandate. Just to give you an example: we have programmes that implement an eco-system approach to fisheries management in Africa and Asia that have been running since 1975!
Veronika Hunt Šafránková, Head of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in Brussels: Responding to the COVID-19 crisis UNEP has accelerated its work on mapping zoonotic threats and protecting the environment to reduce the risk of future pandemics. UNEP’s response described in the document Working With the Environment to Protect People is based on four main pillars: contribution to the medical and humanitarian emergency phase, especially in the medical waste field; a transformational change for nature and people; investing in building back better through economic recovery packages and acceleration of sustainable consumption and production; and modernizing global environmental governance. UNEP is working closely with partners building scientific knowledge on the links between ecosystem stability, environment and human health including zoonotic diseases.
Healthy ecosystems are the key to human survival, and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. I would add that UNEP and FAO lead the implementation of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, which aims to massively scale up the restoration of degraded and destroyed ecosystems to fight the climate crisis and enhance food security, water supply and biodiversity. The restoration of forests will play a vital role in reversing biodiversity loss, as they hold most of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity, as shown in the State of the World’s Forests report mentioned earlier by Rodrigo.
2. What are the major actions, initiatives on political level you see globally that give us hope that this imbalance may be restored in the coming years? Is there hope for our biodiversity and environment? What role can the UN play here?
Rodrigo de Lapuerta, FAO Director in Brussels: I would like to start by mentioning what happens first here at the heart of Europe. End of last year, we were very pleased to see the announcement of the European Green Deal that aims to make Europe climate-neutral by 2050. This is indeed a major and unprecedented step in Europe and a real systemic shift for the continent and, hopefully, for the world. FAO welcomes the international dimension of the Green Deal, including the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies that were announce few days ago, and stands by to be a valuable partner for their implementation.
FAO is working intensively on the UN Food Systems Summit, expected to take place next year. The Summit is being convened by the UN Secretary-General and will engage various stakeholders around the complex choices that affect the future of food systems. I believe sustainable food systems are one of the key entry points to bring about a worldwide transition to the sustainable management of our natural resources and consequently our biodiversity. There are of course a number of other events currently planned, such as the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, the Nutrition for Growth Summit and not to forget, the UN Decade of Ecosystems restoration 2021-2030 that kicks off next year and we will be co-leading with UNEP; just to mention a few.
Veronika Hunt Šafránková, Head of the UNEP in Brussels: There are several key international milestones ahead of us. Clearly, biodiversity cannot be addressed alone but must be linked to the human issues and global processes that affect it. UNEP is contributing to the process towards a new and ambitious Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, stepping towards the United Nations’ 2050 Vision of "Living in harmony with nature". UNEP’s work on this goal includes building scientific knowledge on the links between ecosystems and human health; assisting countries to implement national biodiversity strategy and action plans; partnering with the private sector to build the business case for healthy ecosystems; encouraging the mobilization of resources for productive ecosystems; and supporting biodiversity-related multilateral environmental agreements.
I would highlight the already mentioned UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) which offers a unique opportunity for job creation, food security and addressing climate change.
This decade will also contribute to achieving important environmental targets set by international conventions and agreements such as the Paris Agreement. I would also remind the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017– 2030 promoting sustainable forest management.
The COVID-19 pandemic has acted as a wake-up call; public awareness on environmental issues has never been so high. It is a strong reminder to put nature at the heart of decision making.
The European Union, and the European Green Deal as the key instrument, is setting a very positive course globally. The recently launched EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the Farm to Fork Strategy demonstrate a high level of ambition on biodiversity and sustainable food systems. However, it is noticeable that they are also very closely linked. The cross-sectoral cooperation is absolutely crucial. Both strategies represent a shift in vision towards restoration, opportunity for acceleration of nature-based solutions, and they are an important part of the green recovery in the post-pandemic time.
3. You are Directors of the Liaison Offices of your respective organizations that are active in Europe and manage the interaction with European institutions. What role can Europe play in the post-COVID 19 recovery?
Rodrigo de Lapuerta, FAO Director in Brussels: The European Union can lead the way in building the post-COVID-19 era. Announcing the two complimentary strategies, the Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies, just after the pandemic had hit Europe hard, is a positive sign. Both strategies want to bring together farmers, business and consumers to work jointly towards a sustainable future and better management of natural resources. They are both complementary and they have an important international dimension focusing on supporting sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 by strengthening societies’ resilience to future pandemics and other environment threats. The strategies further advocate for more sustainable practices for agriculture, fisheries, forestry, wildlife protection, all of which are at the heart of FAO’s work in the over 130 countries we are present around the world. We felt very strongly that our experience and expertise as United Nations agency for food and agriculture could be of value in the implementation of the strategies. This is also the reason why we are co-chairing, together with UNEP and with the participation of many of the UN agencies here in Brussels, a working group specifically on the Green Deal. The working group will work together to ensure our long competence and technical knowledge in all areas of food, agriculture and environment are made available for our partners.
Veronika Hunt Šafránková, Head of the UNEP in Brussels: On the European level we are witnessing an unprecedented, green growth, transformative process, under the umbrella of the already mentioned European Green Deal. Its ambitious objectives, in the field of climate, circular economy, biodiversity, agriculture, industry or zero-pollution, offer a real potential to provide solutions and opportunities to boost economy but at the same time address climate and biodiversity crises. This course is very encouraging of course not only for the EU but world-wide. It is reassuring that the Green Deal features significantly also in the EU COVID recovery plan. The EU can indeed lead globally in building back better from COVID-19 and we are looking forward to work with our EU partners on this.
4. The theme of this year’s World Environment Day celebration is Time For Nature. What are your personal actions to protect nature?
Rodrigo de Lapuerta, FAO Director in Brussels: To turn the tide, we need to innovate and implement sustainable agricultural practices that leverage nature-based solutions and protect biodiversity. I really see technology and innovation as a game-changer. Using more mobile applications to avoid food waste, a concrete work plan in reducing more and more the use of unnecessary plastic and packaging in my daily life, I would really welcome that.
I am quite concerned about food losses and waste. I always buy only what I will consume. I have been following this rule all my life. In the world where 821 million people suffer from hunger, it is unacceptable to throw away food. My staff here in the FAO Brussels office know that every time we will have lunch together, I will make sure they take any rests with them for dinner.
I will also try to go more on foot or with my bike to work. There are a number of mobile apps now that help you choose the most convenient and fastest road. Every day I see Brussels becoming more bike-friendly. My bike was stolen unfortunately some days ago, but I will certainly buy a new with soon; with a better lock.
Veronika Hunt Šafránková, Head of the UNEP in Brussels: World Environment Day reminds us that we can make a change also on an individual basis, what we consume, how we travel, how we interact with nature. In my case, at home we are quite strict about quantity and quality of food, we buy and cook what we consume to avoid any food waste. I always look for products grown and produced locally, the closer the better, in Belgium and ideally around our village. Mainly to support local businesses but also to reduce the transportation of goods. My choice is by preference seasonal fruit. We are also growing our own food in the garden, vegetables and fruits. That’s the best!
Of course, I try to minimize waste and make choices to avoid excessive packaging, which sadly still surrounds us way too much. We are reusing and repairing products as much as possible. I even learnt to sew recently! As means of transportation, I love travelling by train. I am a fan of public transportation and try to use it as much as possible. But like Rodrigo, I like to bike or scoot, in the conventional, “manual” way.
Education is also very important. I encourage my children, and they encourage me, to follow the above examples of sustainable lifestyles. We often watch together documentaries about nature, our favourite series are with David Attenborough. Our children have been also following the Earth School.
During the lockdown we all learnt how to use efficiently various technologies for virtual meetings and other communication on daily basis. Face-to-face meetings are an important part of our interaction, however, I am planning to continue to use the virtual meetings as much as possible to reduce travelling and logistical issues.
In fact, sustainable lifestyle, is quite easy and fun. Check out the Anatomy of Action for some great tips on how to make your lifestyle more sustainable.