Summary: 2020 "International Biodiversity Day" emphasizes the importance of living in harmony with nature
Xinhua News Agency, Ottawa, May 22 - Summary: 2020 "International Biodiversity Day" stresses the importance of harmony with nature
Xinhua News Agency reporter
May 22nd is "International Biodiversity Day". In view of the current situation of the new global epidemic, the relevant activities of the United Nations' "International Biodiversity Day" in 2020 will be held online for the first time. The theme of the event is "Our Solutions in Nature", emphasizing the importance of building a future life in harmony with nature through joint efforts at all levels.
The official website of the United Nations issued a speech by UN Secretary General Guterres on the "International Biodiversity Day" in 2020. Guterres said that the new coronavirus from the wild shows that the relationship between humans and nature affects human health. "When we violate nature and deplete important habitats, more and more species are at risk." He called for global efforts to protect biodiversity while seeking to recover from the current crisis, so as to achieve the sustainable development goals.
Elizabeth Murema, acting executive secretary of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity Secretariat, recently accepted a Xinhua News Agency reporter's written interview that the new crown epidemic once again proved that biodiversity is the cornerstone of human health, and the need to protect biodiversity is more urgent. . She hopes that the epidemic will make more people realize that a healthy earth is essential for human recovery from the new crown epidemic, which also warns that humans must repair the deteriorating relationship with nature.
For the implementation of international biodiversity-related policies, 2020 is a crucial year. The "2011-2020 Biodiversity Strategic Plan" and 20 "Aichi Biodiversity Targets" will be achieved by the end of this year. The experience gained in achieving these strategies and targets will also be developed and adopted by both The actual post-2020 global biodiversity framework provides the basis.
Elizabeth Murema said that 2020 is a year of reflection, opportunity and problem solving. The loss of biodiversity is a direct result of human short-sighted activities. The abuse and misuse of nature has caused great damage to biodiversity and caused In addition, the degradation of the ecosystem has led to malignant events such as a global epidemic.
"As the world strives to end this epidemic, in order to build a resilient and sustainable global economy with nature at its core, we all need urgent coordination and cooperative action." Elizabeth Murema said.
The Convention on Biological Diversity is an international convention for the protection of the earth ’s biological resources. It was signed by all parties in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 1992 and entered into force on December 29, 1993. The convention is legally binding and aims to protect the endangered flora and fauna and the diverse biological resources on earth.
Elizabeth Murema also highly praised China's outstanding achievements in protecting biodiversity and implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity. She said that China put forward the goal of ecological civilization construction and adopted strict ecological protection measures, and biodiversity is an important part of ecological civilization. Significant progress has been made in wildlife conservation in China, and some species have begun to appear even after disappearing for many years. After the outbreak, the Chinese legislature passed a decision to comprehensively ban illegal trade and consumption of wild animals, demonstrating the determination and actions to strengthen environmental protection and public health protection. (Participating reporters: Li Baodong, Gao Chunyu, Guo Yang, Guo Shuang)