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| Remarks by H.E. Hiroyuki Kishino, Ambassador of Japan and the Representative of the COP10 Presidency at the Africa Regional Launch for the UN Decade on Biodiversity in Addis Ababa on 22 July, 2011 | |||||
| Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a great pleasure for me, as the representative of the CBD-COP10 presidency, to participate today in this Africa regional launch for the UN Decade on Biodiversity and the Observance of the UN Decade for Deserts and the Fight against Desertification. First of all, I would like to say that it was a great honor and pleasure for the Japanese Government and people to host the COP10 for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the MOP5 for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety back to back in Nagoya last October, welcoming many delegations, observers and media from all over the world. In addition, substantive outcomes were achieved, which marked a milestone for biodiversity. Among the achievements we accomplished in Nagoya were the Aichi Biodiversity Targets for the coming years, the “Nagoya Protocol on ABS”, and the “Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress”. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation to the Parties to the Convention and the Protocol, the CBD Secretariat and all other partners for their devotion and cooperation in making the COP10/MOP5 such a success. I strongly believe that the COP10/MOP5 were historical events for the future of biodiversity. Ten months have already passed since those meetings. In the meantime, various follow-up activities have been implemented. The very useful briefing session we attended this afternoon, organized by UNCBD, can be counted among these. I hope that the session provided a good opportunity to share knowledge and expertise on biodiversity. The challenges before us now are to ensure smooth and effective implementation of the decisions adopted in Nagoya. Concrete actions are required by all Parties for the preservation of biodiversity and the sustainable use of biological resources. Actions now and not just talks! An immediate action on our side is to support LDC Parties through regional workshops or bilateral cooperation to help them effectively implement the decisions of the COP10/MOP5. In this regard, I want to mention the importance of public relations and awareness raising activities. The International Year of Biodiversity was concluded successfully last December with closing events held in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. Therefore, it is timely that the Decade of Biodiversity was declared from 2011 through 2020 by the UN General Assembly at its 65th Session. No doubt it will serve as leverage to initiate active campaigns for biodiversity on a global scale. I would like to pay tribute to UNCBD for its initiative to launch today’s event for Africa. This is a good kick off. Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, We have no time to lose in our endeavor to hand over a clean and green planet to our children and grandchildren. I believe that a better understanding of the fundamental role that biodiversity plays on our planet should be further enhanced both at national and international levels. The vision of the new Strategic Plan adopted in Nagoya, the “World of Living in Harmony with Nature,” must be achieved by 2050. As the COP10 presidency, Japan will make untiring efforts to ensure the steady implementation of the decisions adopted in Nagoya, in close consultation with the Contracting Parties, the CBD Secretariat and all other relevant partners. Let’s work together! Thank you for your attention. |
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