More than 3 billion people rely on marine and coastal biodiversity for their livelihoods, making it clear how important it is to human growth that more than half of the world’s GDP is derived from natural resources. The biosphere of the planet, however, is in danger; 97% of it is harmed, according to statistics from the UN.

In a speech delivered via video on Thursday at the opening ceremony of the high-level session of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15), Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the international community to work together to address climate change and biodiversity loss.

Si stated that cooperation is required to finish the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and establish objectives and strategies for preserving biodiversity worldwide.

He added that China is prepared to do its best to support other developing nations and assist them in elevating global biodiversity management to a new level through the Belt and Road Initiative International Green Development Coalition (BRIGC).

He also cited the Kunming Biodiversity Fund in his speech as an illustration of China’s initiatives to support the preservation of biodiversity in poor nations.

At the COP15 Leaders’ Summit in Kunming, Yunnan Province in southwest China, Xi announced China’s proposal to create the Kunming Biodiversity Fund and take the lead in investing 1.5 billion yuan (about $215 million) to boost biodiversity conservation in underdeveloped nations.

China, meanwhile, has long supported international initiatives to maintain biological diversity. It was one of the first nations to ratify and sign the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and as of 2019, it has grown to be the major funder of its operating expenses and rules.

Source: Prnewswire