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22 May 2023 - Virtual event for International Day for Biological Diversity

All aspects of human wellbeing depend on water. In turn the planet’s water cycle is dependent on and mediated by biodiversity and water-related ecosystems. Freshwater ecosystems cover less than 1% of the Earth's surface but harbour more than 10% of all species.

Freshwater lake in Uruguay

In December 2022, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted with the aim of halting and reversing the loss of biodiversity, sustaining water-related ecosystem services, and supporting SDG 6 and the other Sustainable Development Goals. This global framework sets an ambitious plan, including 4 goals for 2050 and 23 targets for 2030, to implement broad based action to bring about a transformation in our societies’ relationship with biodiversity. All the goals and targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework are linked to water and water-related ecosystems in multiple ways.

To mark the historic achievement of the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework at COP 15, the theme of the International Day for Biological Diversity 2023 is: “From Agreement to Action: Build Back Biodiversity”.  This theme builds on the results of COP 15. Now that the world has the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (agreement), the focus must quickly shift to its implementation (action).

In March this year, the UN 2023 Water Conference in New York marked a once-in-a-generation event, as it was the first UN conference solely dedicated to water issues in the nearly 50 years since the first UN Water Conference. With almost 10,000 registered participants, the Conference aimed to be inclusive, cross-sectoral and action oriented. More than 700 commitments were submitted to the Water Action Agenda platform, which is a collection of new and ambitious commitments, initiatives and actions by governments, the UN system and stakeholders, in support of the lifeblood of our planet. The commitments cover a wide range of actions, from capacity building, to data and monitoring systems to improving the resilience of infrastructure. It is clear from the commitments that governments, the UN system, and stakeholders are paying attention to the cross-cutting and intersectoral nature of water, with roughly a quarter of commitments also relating to global targets on biodiversity. 

 

Virtual event - From Agreement to Action: the Central Role of Water to Build Back Biodiversity

In celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity 2023, a virtual event is hosted on 22 May 2023, 9:00-10:00 EDT/15:00-16:00 CEST.

This event illustrate the critical interlinkages between freshwater and biodiversity and showcase the outcomes of the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15) and UN 2023 Water Conference. The Water Action Agenda commitments on biodiversity made by different stakeholders at the UN 2023 Water Conference is discussed at the event. 

  • Download the programme here.
  • Watch the recording of the virtual event here
     

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