In preparation for the 15th session of the UN Conference on Biological Diversity (COP15) in Kunming, China in October this year, the European Commission is proud to rely on the strong support of a strong Belgian delegation. Global Alliance “United for Biodiversity” (#UnitedForBiodiversity). Alliance – An effort Virginius syncavius, European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries – All national parks, fisheries, botanical gardens, zoos, museums, research centers and universities should be mobilized to raise awareness about the environmental crisis and biodiversity conservation. So far, the #UnitedforBiodiversity Alliance brings together 40 organizations and more than 250 organizations from 49 countries.
After France (38 participants), Germany (34), Spain (27) and the United Kingdom (17), Belgium is in the top 5 of the best represented countries in the alliance, with 15 companies. Moreover, within the framework of this initiative Belgium distinguishes itself in several ways: Last September, the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences closed The world’s first museum of natural sciences joins the alliance; Universities of Louvain-la-Niue (UCL), Brussels (University Libre de Belgium) and Agent (UG) Top 4 universities in the world Join #UnitedforBiodiversity. In addition, 15 Belgians participated in the alliance Diversity And this The purpose of the support of Belgian civil society For biodiversity conservation and enrichment: In addition to the institutions already mentioned, the Royal Museum for Central Africa, the Mees Botanical Garden, the Fish Museum at the University of Liege and more recently Pyre Tysa are also participating in the alliance. Finally, 2 of the 40 organizations that invite their members and associates to join the movement are Belgium: the Royal Belgian Zoological Society and the Royal Zoological Society of Antwerp.
Belgium is committed to conserving biodiversity through a national campaign. “Biodiversity together“It brings together the combined strength of one hundred partners – including the European Commission in Belgium – to put together actions that illustrate how each of us can contribute to our biodiversity by combining all the expertise on the biodiversity crisis. For example, by creating its own square meter of biodiversity.
Virginius syncavius, The European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries welcomes the mobilization: “With more than 1 million species becoming extinct, nature needs our help more than ever. Everyone can contribute. I applaud the movement for biodiversity in Belgium, which brings together more than 100 partners. Their decisive actions are an inspiration to all countries in Europe and around the world. I am very happy that so many Belgian organizations have joined #UnitedforBiodiversity. We share the same inspiration. COP15 at the United Nations Biodiversity Summit in Kunming (China) this fall will bring the vocal nature of more than 250 museums, zoos, fisheries, research centers, universities, parks and botanical gardens closer to visitors and guide the world.
On Earth Day (April 22, 2021), the International Museum Council (ICOM) called on more than 149,000 members from 141 countries to “support a future that does not negotiate respect for nature and biodiversity.” With this call “#UnitedforBiodiversity” will become a pole of attraction for all museums around the world, showing together why nature is so important to mankind and how it inspires artists and engineers, philosophers and designers. Belgium again leads: The Fallon Foundation later became the world’s first art museum to join the coalition. The Fallon Foundation is located Solve Park, this is the Natura 2000 site There is. What a good blink of an eye is to the master who said to himself, “Art begins with nature, returns.”
Background
The first goal of the #UnitedforBiodiversity Alliance is to bring together at least 500 companies from around the world to invite countries around the world COP15 (October 11-24) should be ambitious. At the summit, 196 UN. The conference on biodiversity is expected to establish a new global framework for conserving and restoring nature, which is as important a framework as the 2015 Paris Agreement on resolving climate emergencies.
After the summit, the coalition will focus Combined actions with tangible effects Stop the loss of biodiversity. Through network strengthening activities and communication campaigns, the Alliance will support a new post-2020 biodiversity framework, United Nations Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) and The UN Decade for Environmental Reconstruction; The latter two will be officially launched on June 5, 2021, World Environment Day.
The best practices and ideas from the network will be brought together globally, including tools developed by coalition members. Recently, for example, the Commission, in partnership with its partners – namely the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences in Brussels, the Leiden Naturalis Biodiversity Center and the Museum of Natural Sciences in Barcelona – proposed a pollination park, a virtual reality experience on the importance of insect pollination in museums.
The global decline in biodiversity is real. It is necessary to make “peace with nature” Recent Report of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Which is co-funded by the European Union (EU). That is why 84 countries, including Belgium and other EU member states, have pledged to put biodiversity on the path to recovery by 2030. This is part of it “Natural Pledge of Leaders” On the fringes of the UN General Assembly in September 2020.
With its biodiversity strategy as part of the European Green Agreement, the European Commission announced firm measures last year Convert at least 30% of Europe’s land and sea areas to protected areas. The Commission is currently working on the criteria to meet these protected areas. Biodiversity strategy will soon be complemented by an EU forest strategy, an EU soil strategy and an action plan against wildlife smuggling.
#UnitedforBiodiversity # CoP15
#UnitedforBiodiversity List all participants (including Belgians)
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