UN Summit on Biodiversity “Urgent Action on Biodiversity for Sustainable Development”
by Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
30/09/2020
UN Summit on Biodiversity “Urgent Action on Biodiversity for Sustainable Development”
Leaders Dialogue 1: “Addressing biodiversity loss and mainstreaming biodiversity for sustainable development”
Wednesday, 30 September
Dr QU Dongyu
Director-General
Video message
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. FAO, also on behalf of several sister UN entities, joins your call for urgent action on biodiversity for sustainable development.
2. Biodiversity is invaluable and it is being disappeared rapidly.
3. It plays many vital roles, like nutrient cycling, clean air and water, and has scientific, economic, environmental and cultural importance.
4. There is hardly any economic sector that does not depend – directly or indirectly – on biodiversity.
5. Its loss undermines global efforts to tackle poverty and hunger; no biodiversity, no food diversity.
6. We need to radically transform our economies and behaviors, make sure that they are inclusive, green and sustainable.
7. As governments are negotiating the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, the UN system is committed to support the challenging tasks of mainstreaming biodiversity across economies and societies for best outcomes.
8. Just as we are ensuring that biodiversity is mainstreamed across our internal UN operations, programs and policies by walking the talk.
9. The UN system supports Members in making biodiversity an integral part of strategies on green development, innovative approach and disaster risk management, and in implementing international agreements and policies to ensure food security, livelihoods, and sustainability.
10. Restoring terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, conserving genetic species and natural resources, using nature-based solutions, green and blue finance and sustainable value chains as well as changing consumption and production patterns, are among the priorities that guide our approaches.
11. There are important links between this summit and the UN Food Systems Summit 2021. The future of our agri-food systems depends on biodiversity and the future of biodiversity depends on our food systems transformation, green economic development and reverence to the nature.
12. It is time bridging our agendas.
13. Both Summits are momentum to biodiversity and food security as whole. No one behind and no land behind!
14. Let’s do it historically, holistically, coherently and collectively!
Thank You.