UNITED NATIONS:Recognizing that the continued deterioration and degradationof the world’s natural ecosystems were having major impacts on the livesand livelihoods of people, world leaders called for increased resolve toprotect biodiversity at a day-long top-level meeting on Wednesday.
A record number of countries – nearly 150 countries and 72 Heads of Stateand Government -addressed the first ever Summit held on biodiversity tobuild political momentum towards the post-2020 global biodiversityframework, to be adopted at COP15 in Kunming, China next year.
The day-long summit also featured Leaders Dialogues conducted viavideo-teleconference, one of which focusing on addressing biodiversity lossand mainstreaming biodiversity for sustainable development, was co-chairedby Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Welcoming participants, PM Imran Khan said Pakistan, with 12 climaticzones, is committed to protect its biodiversity. Highlighting some of thoseefforts, he said one national plan aims at planting 10 billion trees.
The project is currently enlisting the help of local communities, givingthem jobs and making them part of initiatives towards protectingbiodiversity.
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During the dialogue, Heads of State and Government shared nationalchallenges and actions adopted to stem biodiversity losses. Many worldleaders agreed that biodiversity was a critical part of achievingsustainable development objectives and that more investments are needed topromote green economies.
Some agreed that humanity is in the middle of a planetary emergency, markedby the compromise of biodiversity at unprecedented speed.
The virtual summit — featuring pre-recorded statements by Heads of Stateand Government, ministers and senior officials from nearly 100 countriesand international organizations — sought to build momentum ahead of thefifteenth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention onBiodiversity, which was originally scheduled to be held in Kunming, China,in October but was postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus. Thatconference aims to adopt a comprehensive post-2020 global biodiversityframework as a stepping-stone towards a 2050 vision of “living in harmonywith nature”.