The Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations ,and Executive Director of the United Nations Environmental programme, UNEP, Inger Andersen says strong funding will be essential for the implementation of aligned National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans at national and regional levels.
The Executive Director said that the the Global Biodiversity Framework,(GBF) calls for a significant step up in both public and private funding alongside a dramatic dialing down of harmful incentives and subsidies. She said that the GBF Fund which is already supporting investments, remains under-capitalized.
“We need urgent contributions from public resources. And we need to see a dramatic increase in private and innovative sources”. She said
She said that justice, equity and inclusion will be foundational to the GBF’s success. “So, it is long past time for the leadership and knowledge of Indigenous Peoples to take front and centre. In the same vein, COP16 must operationalize the mechanism and fund for fair and equitable benefit-sharing from Digital Sequencing Information of genetic resources. That is how the GBF can ensure that those who profit from biodiversity give back to nature, to countries and to communities that steward our natural heritage.
UNEP Support
She said that UNEP is fully behind the GBF and is proud to support 70 countries in the preparations of their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans and also supporting the Development of the GBF monitoring framework.
The Executive Director said that UNEP is honoured to co-chair, with China, the new Kunming Biodiversity Fund following a generous Chinese contribution. “Through the generous support from donors to the GEF, UNEP is proud to act as implementing agency supporting countries with the implementation of just under $600 million in GEF biodiversity resources.” She said.
“Healthy biodiversity is a prerequisite for truly equitable and sustainable development. So, I urge all stakeholders to make this COP the moment the GBF takes wing and sets humanity on course of making peace with nature.”
She congratulated and thanked Colombia for hosting the CBD COP16, in Cali, and for making the event a true people’s gathering.
She described The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, or GBF, as the boldest plan to make peace with nature. A plan that, if implemented and interwoven with the Climate Convention, the Desertification Convention, and the Pollution conventions, can truly address the triple planetary crisis – the crisis of climate change, the crisis of nature, biodiversity and land loss, and the crisis of pollution and waste.
The GBF’s sweeping vision is reflected in 23 clear targets; many of which are quantifiable and measurable.
The High-level Segment gathered Heads of State, Ministers, and high-level officials, while text-based negotiations continued in contact groups throughout the day and into the night.
