15TH MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (COP15)
by Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
12/10/2021
15TH MEETING OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES TO THE
CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (COP15)
High-Level Segment
Ecological Civilization-Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth
Intervention
By
Dr QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
As prepared
12 October 2021
Excellences,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
1. It is an honour to address the High-Level Segment of this landmark conference, which will guide our actions on biodiversity as a global community over the next decade.
2. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations recognizes that the future of agri-food systems is inextricably linked to biodiversity.
3. Biodiversity and food diversity underpin productivity, food security and resilient livelihoods, contributing to the Four Betters:
4. Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment and Better Life.
5. The Four Betters are interdependent.
6. From soil biodiversity, which is at the basis of plant and animal production,
7. To pollination, pest control, and regulating the water cycle,
8. Biodiversity, and the ecosystem services it provides, can transform our agri-food systems to become MORE inclusive, efficient, resilient and sustainable.
9. This is also at the core of FAO’s new Strategic Framework 2022-2031.
10. Reversing biodiversity loss, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing adaptation and strengthening resilience are essential to address poverty and hunger.
11. This message resonates clearly from the recent UN Food System Summit, and must be taken from COP15 in Kunming to COP26 in Glasgow.
12. Agri-food systems are central to the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.
13. And biodiversity mainstreaming across all agricultural sectors must be a priority.
14. If we are to succeed in shifting biodiversity from a path of decline to one of recovery, the framework must be ambitious, pragmatic, equitable and inclusive.
15. Globally, an estimated 30% of landscapes are degraded.
16. Through restoration we can achieve multiple sustainable development objectives, including climate mitigation and adaptation, enhanced food security, and local economic development.
17. Restoring forest landscapes can reduce Co2 and improve ecosystem.
18. Restoring fisheries can improve nutrition and marine environment by sustainable development of their maximum sustainable yield, increasing aquatic production by 16.5 million tonnes, with an annual value of 32 billion US dollars.
19. Likewise, agroforestry revival could increase the food security of 1.3 billion people.
20. To unlock this potential, we need dependable long-term financing, innovation and supportive actions, including capacity development and technology transfer.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
21. Collectively, we already have the knowledge and the means to act.
22. But the successful implementation of the framework requires collective and active participation across all the agri-food sectors.
23. In July, FAO and the CBD co-hosted a Global Dialogue on the Role of Food and Agriculture in the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, bringing together governments, scientists, family farmers, the private sector and civil society from across the agri-food and environment sectors.
24. The Dialogue highlighted that the diversity of genetic resources, species, and ecosystems deliver services that underpin agri-food production and ecosystem restoration.
25. Biodiversity also protects against pests and diseases, including emerging infectious diseases.
26. The Global Dialogue identified solutions to scale-up biodiversity-friendly practices, including through enabling policies and markets.
27. We need to connect the post-2020 framework to the daily realities of the world’s family farmers, small-scale producers, fisherfolk, livestock keepers, foresters, Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
28. When their rights are recognized and protected, and when they have access to tenure and economic opportunities, these women and men, and youth, can make enormous contributions as custodians of biodiversity.
Dear Colleagues,
29. FAO has actively engaged with Members and Partners, working together to the successful conclusion and implementation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.
30. We are working to deliver our first Strategy for Mainstreaming Biodiversity across Agricultural Sectors.
31. As well as its related Action Plan to support implementation at country level.
32. We will also continue to work closely with the CBD, and other key partners, including the private sector.
33. As the custodian agency for several biodiversity-related SDG indicators, FAO can also support Members in their monitoring efforts.
34. Finally, FAO is proud to co-lead the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration with the UN Environment Programme.
35. Which represents an important opportunity to mobilize our joint efforts and catalyse the implementation of the framework.
Dear Friends,
36. I wish to acknowledge all efforts undertaken to advance the draft framework, despite the challenges caused by the pandemic.
37. FAO will be ready and engaged to support its implementation.
38. In order to fulfil our shared aspiration of building a shared future for all life on earth where no one is left behind. We need to pursue the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.
39. COP15 is an important milestone on the path to achieving the 2050 Vision!
40. Thank you.