Photo by Simon Infanger/ Unsplash
04 Sep 2021 Speech Nature Action

Global Biodiversity Framework: All of society for nature

Photo by Simon Infanger/ Unsplash
Speech delivered by: Inger Andersen

Speech delivered via video at the opening of the Post-2020 Partnership Pavilion at the IUCN World Conservation Congress

Thank you for inviting me to speak at the opening of the Post-2020 Partnership Pavilion at the IUCN World Conservation Congress.

Look, I don’t need to tell this audience why the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework matters and what is at stake. You know this. So today, and as the topic of discussion suggests, I will limit my remarks to the opportunities for the Global Biodiversity Framework and the urgency of action – to ensure that we live in a world where we ARE at peace with nature.

We are seeing today what many of you have been warning of for years: the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, threatening our very existence. This crisis has been caused, as we heard so emphatically by the IPCC and IPBES, by people. By us. And we must fix it.

So, the post-2020 global biodiversity framework needs to inspire and drive actions outside the environment and conservation “bubble” so it can deliver real results to reduce the threats to biodiversity, to conserve and restore nature, and to ensure that people continue to enjoy its many benefits.

A Framework that shifts the way we define the multiple values of nature – yes including “economic value” to account for nature. And in so doing, can secure at least half of global GDP dependant on nature and its services.

A Framework that transforms agriculture and food systems by moving to regenerative practices and weeding out nature-destroying subsidies, to help ensure nutritious food for all, now and in the future.

A Framework that promotes a better built environment, that guarantees a healthier life for over half of the world’s population that lives in urban areas. Circular economies and green practices for housing, energy, transport, water, and sanitation are needed to stop biodiversity loss.

A Framework that truly listens to the voices of and enables indigenous people and local communities, and that includes these communities in decision-making.

A Framework that brings nature’s solutions to restore a degraded planet and delivers up to one-third of the mitigation action required to keep global temperatures to below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

In short, the 2020-Global Biodiversity Framework must deliver on climate. Deliver on pollution reduction. Deliver on sustainable production and consumption patterns. Deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals. And deliver the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration.

But as we all know, success happens when we delivery on this ambitious vision. It is about actions by Governments at all levels, the private sector, and actions by science. For this we need political will and social mobilization. Financial and other resources. Capacities to deliver. Transparency and accountability for progress towards national and international commitments.

We need a whole-of-society lift. This means businesses that report on their dependencies and move towards nature positive business models. This means governments that eliminate harmful subsidies and where additional commitments to plug the funding gap of 700 billion dollars every year are in place once the ink dries on the Agreement. Not year after next, or year after that – but immediately so we will begin delivering rapidly.

The Framework and expectations for its delivery must be crystal clear on these important elements, and as a community represented here, we need to be sure we are ready to help on their delivery.

Using economic recovery packages to build back with nature at its heart – gives us a real shot of embarking on the transitions I have just outlined. So far, our progress has been disappointing. In 2020, only 18 per cent of recovery spending was “green”. We must change course. Investing in clean energy, transport, building upgrades, natural capital and clean R&D can kick-start a move to a nature-positive world.

I thank you for all that you are doing – in recognizing and protecting nature as our greatest ally. I look forward to the progress we will make on the post-2020 biodiversity framework and of course, on climate change at COP26 – because progress at COP26, on decarbonization, is also critical to the success of the Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework.

Thank you.

Inger Andersen

Executive Director

Related Sustainable Development Goals