Summary
Highlights for Monday, 29 April 2019
IPBES-7 opened on Monday with a youth dance performance titled “Steps for a Change” that made references to biodiversity loss and pointed to interlinkages with climate change.Opening the session, IPBES Chair Robert Watson noted that the Global Assessment is the first comprehensive intergovernmental biodiversity assessment since the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment in 2005, stressing it provides evidence for informed action by governments, private sector, and civil society. Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General, stressed alliances between science and youth, disseminating messages more broadly to civil society, and addressing challenges of economic development. IPBES Executive Secretary Anne Larigauderie said the Global Assessment will not only highlight the importance of biodiversity conservation for attaining the SDGs, but also address the intangible contribution of biodiversity to our identity and cultural heritage. Laurent Stéfanini, Permanent Delegate of France to UNESCO, recalled that, in 2005, then President Jacques Chirac called for creating an intergovernmental expert platform on biodiversity and highlighted that the Global Assessment will shed light on the urgency of addressing biodiversity loss.In the evening, François de Rugy, French Minister for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition, welcomed delegates to Paris. He stressed the need to prepare “for the crucial rendez-vous” with biodiversity that will take place in 2020 when the CBD COP will decide on the post-2020 biodiversity framework. He outlined national efforts to address biodiversity loss and stressed that “we can still win, but alas, also lose if we do not act. The choice is ours.”Evening ReceptionBruno David, Director of the National Museum of Natural History, stressed that we need to preserve biodiversity not only for ethical or aesthetic reasons, but also because “it is our best insurance for the future,” underscoring the need for political action for the sake of future generations.Emmanuelle Wargon, State Secretary at the Ministry for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition, France, stressed the need for ambitious policies at the national level to drive strong strategies internationally. She emphasized the “ambitious and comprehensive” French National Biodiversity Strategy, noting it has increased public awareness on biodiversity, thus allowing optimism for the future.Brune Poirson, State Secretary at the Ministry for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition, France, emphasized that France is doing everything in its power to protect nature and build an international agenda for biodiversity that is as powerful as the one on climate change. She emphasized the need to transform our economic systems and bring more “love” into our work. Underscoring that there is one year left to build a strong framework for biodiversity at the international level, she stressed that now is the time to translate science to policy for public actions.”IPBES Executive Secretary Anne Larigauderie thanked all speakers for the powerful and inspirational messages, highlighting the connection between biodiversity and climate change.For extensive details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB).
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage and daily reports from IPBES-7. In addition, IISD Reporting Services, will publish a summary and analysis report of IPBES-7 on Tuesday, 7 May 2019.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Diego Noguera
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Opening Ceremony
Plenary
Evening Reception
Around the Venue
