On behalf of the EU, the European Commissioner for the Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella, called on Wednesday 14 November in Sharm El-Sheikh for a global awakening to preserve biodiversity on land and at sea, saying that the loss of global biodiversity is as serious a phenomenon as climate change.
He was speaking at the opening of the African Ministerial Summit on Biodiversity in Egypt (14-15 November), ahead of the 14th Conference of the Parties (COP 14) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD, 17-19 November) (see EUROPE 12125).
"The current rate at which we are losing our wildlife and ecosystems is an existential threat as worrying as climate change. I am encouraged by the growing awareness of the links between the two", said Mr Vella, referring to COP 24 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Katowice, December 3-14).
"Protecting biodiversity on land as in the ocean is important for future generations, but also for our current wellbeing", the Commissioner added.
CBD COP 14 will focus mainly on addressing biodiversity concerns in mining, energy, infrastructure, industry and health, and on monitoring the 2011-2020 Biodiversity Strategic Plan. It will also seek to lay the foundations for a long-term vision and a global framework for post-2020 biodiversity. The EU's position for this international conference was decided by the Council in October (see EUROPE 12115). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)