Experts interpret the Kunming Declaration: "The key words of the Declaration are 'mainstreaming' and 'systemic change', which is a declaration of action for the future"

On the evening of October 13, at the media meeting on the interpretation of the results of the high-level meeting, experts interpreted the Kunming Declaration.

Cover news reporter Du Jiangqian reported from Kunming, Yunnan

2021 has been dubbed by the United Nations "a pivotal year to reshape our relationship with nature", calling for a global response to climate change and the biodiversity crisis. On 13 October, the first high-level segment of the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) officially adopted the Kunming Declaration, calling on all parties to take action to build a community of life on earth.

"The Kunming Declaration is the declaration of a crucial conference convened at a critical juncture in human development." On the evening of October 13, at the media meeting on the interpretation of the outcome of the high-level meeting, Ren Hai, director of the South China Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that the Kunming Declaration will have a profound positive impact on global biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

Also at the meeting, Gao Jixi, director of the Satellite Environmental Application Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, interpreted the main points of the Kunming Declaration as consensus, vision and comprehensive coordination. He said frankly that biodiversity conservation cannot be achieved on a biological basis, nor can it be achieved by a single list of measures, actions, countries and organizations, "it must play a comprehensive and coordinating role, and a strong political motivation is needed to formulate, adopt and implement an ambitious and transformative measure to solve the deterioration of biodiversity and achieve harmonious coexistence between man and nature." ”

"Mainstreaming biodiversity conservation into economic and social development"

In Ren Hai's view, the root cause of the contradiction between the threat to biodiversity and the inability of human action is the lack of consensus on protection and development among politicians, the public and scientists, the uneven development between different regions or countries in the world, and the imbalance between the global economy and soft power. ”

Therefore, the theme of the Kunming Declaration, "Ecological Civilization: Jointly Building a Community of Life on Earth", captures the deep-seated and main contradictions. At the same time, Ren Hai believes that there are 17 commitments in the declaration, and many references to "mainstreaming" and "systemic change" are two keywords that he regards as a "good medicine" for the problems existing in the past implementation of the contract, and it is also a declaration of action in the future.

Specifically, biodiversity is divided into genetic diversity, species diversity, ecosystem diversity, and the concepts of landscape diversity and functional diversity are used in research and policy, involving from molecular to global scales. The main body of biodiversity conservation is mainly at the international, national and public scales.

"The international community is mainly proposing the vision of the goals, the state is the main body of action, and the people are the participants and beneficiaries." Ren Hai explained that "Kunming Yiyan" emphasizes mainstreaming, and the mainstreaming of biodiversity is to integrate biodiversity conservation into the mainstream of economic and social development, so as to avoid destruction first and then protect, so as to prevent problems before they occur, so that biodiversity conservation and economic development can be carried out simultaneously.

"Conservation of biodiversity through integrated and synergistic means"

On the other hand, the mainstreaming of biodiversity is also the main way to achieve the transformation of biodiversity conservation from administrative orders to the integrated application of legal, economic, technical and necessary administrative methods. In this regard, Ren Hai believes that mainstreaming can fundamentally solve the problem of conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and in order to better promote the mainstreaming of global biodiversity, it is necessary to strengthen legal and regulatory and policy support, strengthen scientific and technological support, develop more effective methods and introduce indicator systems, guidelines and strengthen yichuan education.

Gao Jixi, who also has a deep feeling for "mainstreaming", believes that in the Kunming Declaration, the comprehensive and coordinated means of protection are first reflected in the environmental, economic and social integration, "the core of the policy formulation of governments is that the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity become 'mainstream', and it is included in national policies or decisions." ”

In addition, when it comes to the means of biodiversity conservation, he stressed that the Kunming Declaration reflects the importance of ecological protection and restoration measures remaining the basis for the conservation of biodiversity, while at the same time meeting people's needs by enhancing the sustainable use of biodiversity.

Notably, Gao Jixi said the Kunming Declaration emphasizes joint participation in biodiversity conservation, "including all levels of government, all stakeholders, and also specifically mentions the participatory role of indigenous peoples and local communities." In addition, the Kunming Declaration notes the need to strengthen synergy and interaction with other conventions to improve the efficiency of ecological and environmental improvement, "for example, to further strengthen the docking with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development." ”

"Establish binding indicators for biodiversity conservation, but also conduct assessment"

At the same time, the two experts also put forward their own views when talking about the landing of the Kunming Declaration.

Gao Jixi believes that the formulation of the "post-2020 global biodiversity framework" needs to have clear indicators and assessment schemes. It is necessary to establish binding indicators for biodiversity conservation at several levels and aspects at the global, national and regional levels, and to assess whether the indicators are in place, "It is best to assess the implementation every year or every few years in order to adjust the corresponding indicators." ”

In Ren Hai's view, how to share scientific knowledge is also the key, which involves the use of biodiversity, which is also the core of the "Aichi Targets" that cannot be fully achieved. At present, developed countries use in protection and developing countries protect in use, and a balance needs to be found between the two.

And, of course, there are financial and technical issues. Ren Hai believes that the earth is a community, and it is necessary to increase investment in key areas and species that need to be protected to maximize benefits. "In the future, how to pay more money, invest in areas and species that need to be protected, and use the strongest protection to get the best benefits, this is the goal, but also the difficulty."

"This also reflects fairness and justice." Gao Jixi believes that many areas with rich biodiversity and areas with serious decline in biodiversity will be relatively poor, and developed countries need to come up with funds to help these countries, but also to export technology to developing countries. ”

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