������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��

Statement by ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Director General, Dr Bruno Oberle

High-Level Segment

2020 United Nations Biodiversity Conference

“Ecological Civilization - Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth”

Opening Plenary

15 December, 10:00-13:00

��

Excellencies, Ministers, ladies and gentlemen

For nearly 75 years, ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� has convened the global community around safeguarding biodiversity for sustainable development and well-being of all life on Earth. The Union provides a robust transdisciplinary interface between science, policy, and practice.

As we move to the implementation of the framework, its goals and targets, ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��’s data, products, standards and tools, such as the ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Red List of Threatened Species, the Red List of Ecosystems, the Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas Standard, and the ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Global Standard for Nature-based Solutions, amongst others, inform conservation action at national and all levels.

These datasets are used by governments not only to define targets and track progress towards global goals for nature, but also they are backed by the expertise of our wide networks of experts all over the world.

Excellencies, CBD COP15 offers a unique, once in a lifetime opportunity to set a clear path towards a nature-positive society and economy by 2030. For this to happen, we must secure a bold, ambitious yet practical Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework here in Montreal.

But clearly, we will also need mechanisms to regularly track how well – or how bad- we will advance in implementing the action targets under the framework so that we can adapt and change course as needed.

Accountability is thus key. Governments, and indeed all actors, must be responsible for the commitments made and answerable for negatively impacting biodiversity.

The ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Contributions for Nature platform allows ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� Members to document where they are undertaking -or planning to undertake- conservation and restoration actions. This effectively constitutes a repository for ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ�� constituents to document their intended contributions not only to ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��'s Nature 2030 Programme, but also to other conservation frameworks and agreements such as the Global Biodiversity Framework, the Paris Agreement, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In ending, let me reiterate ������ϲʿ�������ֳ�ֱ��’s commitment to continue to support Parties and other actors to step-up conservation action as we strive to achieve a vision of living in harmony with nature.