World Biodiversity Summit 2024: An urgent call to action

The World Biodiversity Summit returns for its fourth edition on September 26, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly and New York Climate Week. This summit will also be held on October 26, in conjunction with COP16 in Cali, Colombia.

This year, the program focuses on building global public-private partnerships, addressing the urgent need to restore biodiversity through nature-based solutions and environmentally sound investments. The event aims to build bridges between climate and biodiversity initiatives, highlighting the importance of an integrated approach.

This year's Global Biodiversity Summit will take stock of the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. It will also explore synergies between climate and biodiversity issues, encouraging collaboration among diverse actors, including businesses, governments, civil society, and financial institutions. The goal is to strengthen support for nature while mitigating climate and biodiversity risks, and amplifying large-scale business opportunities.

María Susana Muhamad González, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of the Colombian government, highlighted the lack of simple solutions to these challenges. She said: " We need to start thinking about how we can change our way of life, because replacing fossil fuels means changing our way of life, not just changing the technology ."

This year's Summit represents a crucial opportunity to mobilize collective efforts to protect our planet and ensure a sustainable future. The discussions held there could well shape global environmental policies for years to come.

Djamiou ABOUDOU