15-17 December 2022, Montreal, Canada
The Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Costas Kadis, participated in the 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. The meeting took place in Montreal, Canada, and was attended by representatives of the countries (more than 190) that have adopted the Convention.
The 15th Conference is an important milestone in the efforts of the States Parties to the Convention to halt one of the most important crises facing our planet today, that of the loss of biodiversity. In particular, the Conference is discussing the new Strategic Framework for Biodiversity Conservation to 2030 and the identification of new, measurable and ambitious targets in this direction. The Global Strategic Framework for Biodiversity includes 21 targets. Among others, it includes the protection of 30% of terrestrial and 30% of marine ecosystems, the integration of biodiversity in all sectors and in particular in spatial planning, the significant reduction of insecticide and herbicide use, the restoration of species and habitats, and the linking of climate change and biodiversity through the implementation of nature-based solutions. An important objective of the Conference is to mobilise resources, particularly in developing countries, in such a way that the use of these resources is efficient in achieving the targets to be set.
It is also noted that Cyprus is part of the High Ambition Coalition of 119 countries supporting the protection of 30% of terrestrial and 30% of marine ecosystems by 2030 (High Ambition Coalition). Our country was represented at the Press Conference which was held in the framework of the Conference.
Costas Kadis, addressing the Conference, noted Cyprus' readiness to commit to a framework of ambitious targets to halt biodiversity loss. He mentioned that in Cyprus, more than 30% of the land area under the control of the Republic of Cyprus is already under a special protection regime for the ecosystems and species it hosts. Cyprus, he said, is implementing its National Biodiversity Strategy which is based on the European and Global Biodiversity Strategies. He also pointed out that every state can make a difference, even small states like Cyprus, and called on all countries to contribute to the global effort to halt the loss of biodiversity. The Cypriot delegation participates in the daily coordination meetings held by the Member States of the European Union, through which the ambitious targets to be pursued in the negotiations between all the countries participating in the Convention are identified.
The Conference will conclude on 19 December 2022 and, in addition to reaching agreement on the objectives to be set, is expected to result in the mobilisation of the funds required to achieve these objectives.
(NΓ)
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