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75th UNGA – UN Summit on Biodiversity

National Statement delivered by Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, at the UN Summit on Biodiversity —

Mr. President of the General Assembly,

Excellencies,

Distinguished guests,

We have learnt these years that the lack of respect for nature by mankind can have catastrophic impacts on all aspects of our lives.

The COVID-19 pandemic reminds us of this fact. Destroying and degrading biodiversity increases the risk of spreading diseases from wildlife to people.

Moreover, the concurrent phenomena of biodiversity loss, climate change and the pandemic hit the most vulnerable hardest, with the risk of undermining our efforts to promote sustainable and equitable development, in line with the 2030 Agenda.

The recovery phase offers us now a unique opportunity to invest on the health of our planet and put people and nature at the heart of the political agenda.

Before the pandemic, we expected 2020 to be the ‘Super Year for Nature’, but the current dramatic situation has forced us to delay the calendar of important international events.

However, this postponement also has a positive side, opening a window of opportunity to align biodiversity and climate goals.

The COP26 hosted by UK in partnership with Italy, and the Italian Presidency of the G20 in 2021, intend to tackle biodiversity loss and climate change as intrinsically linked crises.

Furthermore, Italy is already committed to multilateral initiatives of primary importance.

Within the European Union, the adoption of the “European Biodiversity Strategy to 2030” aims to expand the surface of protected areas and works to ensure that all ecosystems are restored, resilient and protected.

Besides, Italy is working with UNESCO to promote a global network of environmental experts to provide free assistance and capacity building in the management of the UNESCO recognized natural areas across the Globe.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

A scientific and cooperative approach based on global solidarity must guide our efforts to reverse the current situation.

Today, we must raise the level of ambition for the development of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, in view of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Aware of the need to take action, Italy has endorsed the “Leaders Pledge for Nature”, which urges States to step up global ambition for biodiversity.

It is our responsibility to seize this opportunity, increasing global awareness and setting ambitious goals to build a sustainable, resilient, inclusive and fair world to hand over to our younger generations.

Thank you.

 

National Statement delivered by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte at the UN Summit on Biodiversity (video starting from 3:41:30)