We, the Executive Secretaries of the regional commissions, at the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (part two),
Recognizing the essential role and critical importance of biodiversity and ecosystem services, including in underpinning the fight against poverty, supporting inclusive sustainable economic growth, furthering “green” and “blue” economies, ensuring food security and food sovereignty, and supporting implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,
Expressing concern about the multiple global crises that have arisen due to the impacts of biodiversity loss, climate change, pollution, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, conflicts and wars, among other things, on human well-being, peace, health, the environment and development,
Expressing concern also about the gap in efforts to address the loss of nature due to multiple drivers of change, and highlighting the need for transformative changes in our societies, economies and institutions,