The Executive Secretary's message to students celebrating Earth Day 2025

“Today, we celebrate our planet, but also your commitment as young changemakers demanding action on climate and biodiversity”, Astrid Schomaker, the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, told students participating in the #Decarbonize Youth Dialogue program's event marking Earth Day (22 April 2025). 

"Hello everybody,

Thank you for your participation in this 2025 Earth Day Event! Today, we celebrate our planet, but also your commitment as young changemakers demanding action on climate and biodiversity.

We at the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity want to support your efforts. 

You know that climate and biodiversity issues are closely linked. Climate change has a direct impact on ecosystems and species that live within them, including us, human beings. 

Conversely, healthy ecosystems and nature-based solutions are needed to address the impacts of climate change and make societies and economies more resilient.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2022, shows what we need to do to ensure that biodiversity thrives. It emphasizes the role education and the engagement of youth.

As you prepare for the upcoming Climate Conference, I invite you to keep the role of nature as solution provider in mind, to keep connecting with your peers and sharing your concerns and priorities locally and globally. 

Thanks to your commitment, the commitment of young people around the globe, fulfilling the vision of life in harmony with nature is possible.

Thank you so much."

More Information:

Information package about the event

Statement by Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, on International Mother Earth Day, 22 April 2025

Join the conversation: Earth week webinar series