Dr. Zhou Jinfeng, the Secretary-General of China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) has officially been invited by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) platform Secretariat to attend the 7th Plenary Session (#IPBES7) in Paris, France, from April 29 to May 4, 2019.
The IPBES is an intergovernmental body under the United Nations Environment and Development Framework that assesses the status of biodiversity and provides ecosystem services to society based on policymakers' requirements. After becoming its accredited observer, CBCGDF has maintained close interaction and communication with IPBES.
CBCGDF has previously received IPBES’s research report on the continued deterioration of global biodiversity and nature for human well-being. Recently, CBCGDF has received letters from the Executive Secretary of IPBES Dr. Anne Larigauderie and was invited to participate in the external review of the global biodiversity and ecosystem services assessment, recommending experts in the sustainable use of wild species, and attending the outcome seminar of the platform’s 6th Plenary Session, etc., as well as to give comments on the working program for the 7th Plenary Session in Paris. The Dr. Zhou penned CBCGDF’s Environmental Public Interest Litigation (EPIL) projects and related cases dynamics information was also published on the IPBES platform.
In July 2018, Dr. Zhou received a letter from Dr. Anne Larigauderie and was invited to make comments and recommendations on the short-term priorities and long-term strategic needs of IPBES’s future work plan. Time flies, around biodiversity and conservation and sustainable development, and addressing the climate change in an emergency, in December 2018, the UNEP Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) sent a letter to Dr. Zhou asking him to comment on the resolution adopted by the CBD concerning IPBES platform. The resolution was derived from the 6th Plenary Session: the Multidisciplinary Expert Panel of IPBES and its Bureau, with the support of the Secretariat, to finalize the draft strategic framework and platform work programme as of 2030. To this end, the Multidisciplinary Expert Panel and the Bureau invited Governments and stakeholders to comment on the working draft.
In view of this, Dr. Zhou’s recommendations include emphasizing the importance of education, and the platform should consider integrating education into its path of transforming reforms. He pointed out that biodiversity needs to be mainstreamed, and awareness raising, and education are indispensable. Raising awareness through the education system is the key to biodiversity conservation. It is also recommended that in addition to the production sector, the impact of the “circulation sector” on biodiversity should be considered, including in particular the e-commerce platform. The e-commerce platform should be fully researched on the environmental impacts of biodiversity.
The current #IPBES7 schedule includes the regional consultations and “Stakeholder Day” will be held on April 28 2019; the plenary session will be held at 10 am on April 29, and the opening ceremony will be held on the evening of the same day; the closing time was set for May 4. The provisional agenda for the Plenary is available on the IPBES website (https://www.ipbes.net/event/ipbes-7-plenary). This event is very important and will invite the plenary to review the summary of decision makers for the global assessment of biodiversity and ecosystem services and to adopt the platform’s future working plan. The Plenary will also receive a report on the review of the platform at the end of the first work agenda. The financial and budgetary arrangements for the platform will also be considered.
The openness and inclusiveness of the IPBES platform invites all members and stakeholders to contribute to the creative and meaningful ideas and priorities and has been gaining the praise of CBCGDF’s international colleagues. Dr. Zhou’s visit to France this time, will also uphold CBCGDF as China’s leading NGO dedicated to eco-friendly and sustainable development of the way of “Going out, inviting in”, in the context of the increasing international voice, continued to tell the good stories of China, convey China’s voice, while broadening the channel of vision, strengthening opportunities for international cooperation and enhancing innovation in meeting challenges.
Welcome follow CBCGDF on its official Wechat account ChinaGreenExpress for the details of attending the #IPBES7. Effectively participating in global environmental governance, CBCGDF has a long way to go.
(Photo credit: IPBES)
Dr. Zhou's essay about CBCGDF EPIL is published on the platform. (Photo credit: IPBES)
Original Chinese article:
http://www.cbcgdf.org/NewsShow/4937/7559.html
By / Niu Jingmei