Press release
Minister Noonan speaks at UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15)
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
• Global conference seeks to put biodiversity on a path to recovery by 2030
• The Kunming Declaration commits Parties to an ambitious post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework
• Minister Noonan committed to working with international partners to achieve real transformative change
The High-Level Segment of the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15), hosted by the People’s Republic of China virtually on 12-13 October 2021, closed today with the adoption of the Kunming Declaration. Parties to the Convention committed to develop, adopt and implement an effective post-2020 global biodiversity framework that would biodiversity put on a path to recovery by 2030 at the latest, towards the full realization of the 2050 Vision of “Living in Harmony with Nature.”
Focused on the theme of “Ecological Civilization—Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth”, the objective of the HLS is to build and maintain political momentum in support of the ongoing work to develop a detailed, ambitious and effective post-2020 global biodiversity framework, for adoption at phase two of the Conference from 25 April to 8 May 2022.
“Reversing biodiversity loss is among the greatest challenges of our times,” said Minister of State for Heritage at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Malcom Noonan TD, speaking at the virtual High Level Segment early on Wednesday morning. “Ireland is committed to working together with its international partners to realise an ambitious post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework that achieves real transformative change.”
Commenting on the challenge ahead, he added: “This is a huge social and economic challenge that will require a profound transformation of value chains, business models and patterns of human behaviour and consumption.”
The HLS featured in-depth discussions among Ministers at roundtable sessions, as well as contributions from international and regional organisations, and stakeholder groups to reinforce the ambition for the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
Minister Noonan noted that while the key decisions on the new Global Biodiversity Framework would be taken at phase 2 of the COP next year in Kunming, it was important that political momentum was maintained in the intervening period.
The Heritage Minister was pleased to add that, as well as phase 1 of COP15, the National Parks and Wildlife Service of his Department would be attending important inter-sessional meetings of SBSTTA-24 and SBI-3 next January in preparation for the second part of COP15.
For Editors:
The full title of the meeting is the High-Level Segment of the Fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (and of the concurrent meetings of the Parties to the Cartagena and Nagoya Protocols) taking place 12 & 13 October 2021.
The High-Level Segment (HLS) of phase one of the 2021-22 UN Biodiversity Conference, (fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity as well as the concurrent meetings of the Parties of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization), will be hosted the People’s Republic of China and takes place virtually on 12-13 October 2021.
Focusing on the theme of “Ecological Civilization—Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth”, the objective of the HLS is to build and maintain political momentum in support of the ongoing negotiations to develop a detailed and effective post-2020 global biodiversity framework, due for adoption at phase two of the Conference in spring 2022.
The HLS will feature in-depth discussions amongst Ministers, at roundtable sessions, and other high-level representatives of Parties, as well as international and regional organizations and non-Party stakeholder groups to reinforce the ambition for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. It is envisaged that the HLS will adopt a political declaration (the ‘Kunming Declaration’).
From 25 April to 8 May 2022, the UN Biodiversity Conference (including CBD COP15 Phase 2) will resume in person to conclude negotiations and decide on the new Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
Prior to the reconvening of COP15, there will be in-person meetings of the Twenty-fourth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-24) and
the Third meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI-3). These are scheduled for January 2022 and will be attended by the Department.
The Kunming Declaration
Minister Noonan also welcomed the adoption of the Kunming Declaration, at the closing of the High Level Segment on Wednesday 13th October. The Kunming Declaration, titled ‘Ecological Civilisation: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth’, will signal political will to maintain momentum for the GBF during the inter-sessional period leading up to Phase 2 of COP15 in April 2022.
Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage Press Office
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