UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has issued a stark warning about the urgent need to address environmental decline. In his message for the International Day for Biological Diversity, Guterres emphasized the critical state of the world’s ecosystems. He noted that the “complex web of biological diversity sustains all life on earth” but is rapidly deteriorating due to human activities, according to Xinhua News Agency.
Human Activities and Environmental Impact
Guterres pointed out that human actions are causing significant damage to the environment. “We are contaminating land, oceans, and freshwater with toxic pollution, wrecking landscapes and ecosystems, and disrupting our precious climate with greenhouse gas emissions,” he said. The Secretary-General stressed the severe consequences of humanity’s ecological footprint, warning that the degradation of biodiversity is both an environmental and developmental crisis.
The Developmental Crisis
The loss of biodiversity threatens sustainable development and poses a significant risk to future generations. “Decimating biodiversity damages sustainable development today and creates a dangerous and uncertain tomorrow,” Guterres cautioned. He advocated for the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework as a crucial strategy to reverse environmental degradation and restore biodiversity.
Benefits of the Kunming-Montreal Framework
Guterres highlighted the economic and developmental benefits of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This plan not only aims to halt environmental decline but also promises job creation, increased resilience, and the promotion of sustainable development. He urged for widespread participation in conservation efforts, emphasizing that everyone has a role to play in this global initiative.
Call for Collective Action
The Secretary-General called on various stakeholders, including indigenous peoples, businesses, financial institutions, local and regional authorities, civil society, women, young people, and academia, to collaborate in valuing, protecting, and restoring biodiversity. “We are all ‘Part of the Plan’ — we all have a role to play,” he reminded, urging collective action to safeguard the planet’s biodiversity.
Building Momentum Towards COP16
Guterres also stressed the importance of building momentum toward the upcoming Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of Parties (COP16) in October. He called for urgent actions to protect the planet and create a more sustainable future. “Let us commit to be Part of the Plan. Let us act urgently to put biodiversity on a path to recovery,” he urged.
International Day for Biodiversity
The International Day for Biological Diversity, celebrated annually on May 22, is coordinated by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), part of the United Nations Environment Programme. This day commemorates the adoption of the CBD text on May 22, 1992, and provides an opportunity to generate support for the convention, its protocols, and related action frameworks.