UNEA-5 Virtual Side Event: Strengthening Non-State Actor Commitments for Biodiversity -- 18 February 2021
The Governments of Egypt and China, in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, are organizing a virtual side event “Strengthening Non-State Actor Commitments for Biodiversity in the context of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and SDGs” on the margins of the fifth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-5). The side event will take place on 18 February 2021 from 17:00-18:30 GMT+3 / 9:00 10:30 EST. The concept note and agenda are available on the CBD meetings webpage.
The objective of the event is to demonstrate how commitments by non-state actors (e.g. civil society organizations, business and financial sectors, cities and other local authorities) can help to raise ambition for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework and support actions to promote its implementation, while also contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Speakers will present their motivations in pledging commitments and share how such commitments are translated into actions.
The following are foreseen outcomes of the event:
- mobilizing and connecting new voices and leadership in support of the biodiversity agenda;
- profiling commitments and actions for the post-2020 process, as well as contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals and UN Decade of Action; and
- bringing awareness of methodologies to track progress in support of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.
More Information:
Op-ed Published on Thomson Reuters Foundation News website
Make a Commitment: Sharm El-Sheikh to Kunming Action Agenda for Nature and People
Agenda
Ms. Elizabeth Mrema, Executive Secretary, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
Her Excellency Ms. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environment of the Arab Republic of Egypt
His Excellency Mr. Huang Runqiu, Minister of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China
Mr. Francis Ogwal (Uganda), WG2020 Co-Chairs
Mr. Basile van Havre (Canada), WG2020 Co-Chairs
Moderator: Mr. Manuel Pulgar Vidal (Former Minister of Environment of Peru; WWF Senior Advisor)
Commitments on biodiversity and broader SDGs
Ms. Marina Grossi, President of the Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development, Brazilian Business Commitment for Biodiversity (coalition of 14 companies)
Fashion for Biodiversity – Coalition commitments and Kering Biodiversity Strategy
Ms. Geraldine Vallejo, Sustainability Programme Director at Kering
Finance for Biodiversity Pledge - Protecting and restoring biodiversity through finance activities and investments
Ms. Vicki Benjamin, CEO, Karner Blue Capital
Science Based Targets for Nature - Methodologies to support commitment tracking
Ms. Erin Billman, Executive Director, Science Based targets Network
Countries and stakeholders to provide views and questions via interventions and the chat function to the panelist.
Reflections on the Action Agenda for Nature and People
Mr. Gonzalo Muñoz, Climate Champion
Strengthening Commitments for Biodiversity
Mr. Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, GEF CEO
Partnership, stakeholder engagement and collaboration
Mr. Neville Ash, Director, UNEP -WCMC
Ms. Elizabeth Mrema, Executive Secretary, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity