Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, attends the COP 16 High-Level Segment

Trilingual as delivered
 
 
Presidente Petro,
 
Gracias por acoger esta importante sesión, aquí en Cali – un microcosmos de la rica biodiversidad de nuestro planeta.
 
Excelencias, queridos amigos,
 
La naturaleza es vida.
 
Y, sin embargo, estamos librando una guerra contra ella.
 
Una guerra donde no puede haber vencedores.
 
Cada año, vemos las temperaturas subir más y más.
 
Cada día, perdemos más especies.
 
Cada minuto, vertemos un camión de basura de desechos plásticos en nuestros océanos, ríos y lagos.
 
No se equivoquen.
 
Así es como se ve una crisis existencial.
 
Ningún país, rico o pobre, es inmune a la devastación provocada por el cambio climático, la pérdida de biodiversidad, la degradación de la tierra y la contaminación.
 
Estas crisis ambientales están entrelazadas. No conocen fronteras.
 
Y están devastando ecosistemas y medios de vida, amenazando la salud humana y socavando el desarrollo sostenible.
 
Los motores de esta destrucción están arraigados en modelos económicos obsoletos, que alimentan patrones insostenibles de producción y consumo.
 
Y se ven multiplicados por las desigualdades – en riqueza y poder.
 
Cada día que pasa, nos acercamos más a puntos de inflexión que podrían alimentar más hambre, desplazamientos y incluso conflictos armados.
 
Ya hemos alterado el 75% de la superficie terrestre y el 66% de los océanos.
 
Queridas amigas y queridos amigos,
 
La biodiversidad es aliada de la humanidad.
 
Debemos pasar de saquearla a preservarla.
 
Como he dicho una y otra vez, hacer las paces con la naturaleza es la tarea definitoria del siglo XXI.
 
Ese es el espíritu de la Declaración de hoy de la Coalición Mundial por la Paz con la Naturaleza:
 
Un llamado a la acción para mejorar los esfuerzos nacionales e internacionales hacia una relación equilibrada y armoniosa con la naturaleza – protegiendo la naturaleza y conservando, restaurando, utilizando y compartiendo de manera sostenible nuestra biodiversidad global.
 
Un llamado a reconocer el conocimiento vital, las innovaciones y las prácticas de los Pueblos indígenas y afrodescendientes, los agricultores y las comunidades locales.
 
Un llamado por la vida.
 
Excellencies, Dear friends,
 
Last month, UN Member States adopted the Pact for the Future.
 
The Pact recognizes the need to accelerate efforts to restore, protect, conserve and sustainably use the environment.
 
It emphasizes the importance of halting and reversing deforestation and forest degradation by 2030, and other terrestrial and marine ecosystems that act as sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases.
 
This means conserving biodiversity, while ensuring social and environmental safeguards – in line with the Paris Climate Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
 
When the Framework was adopted two years ago in Montreal, the world made bold commitments to living in harmony with nature by mid-century.
 
Its goals and targets require robust monitoring, reporting, and review arrangements to track progress, as well as a resource mobilisation package to increase finance for biodiversity from all sources – mobilizing at least USD 200 billion per year by 2030.
 
But we must now turn these promises into action in four vital ways. 
 
First – at the national level, all countries must finally present clear, ambitious and detailed plans to align with the Framework’s targets.
 
These national plans should be developed in coordination with Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans – with positive outcomes in the Sustainable Development Goals.
 
We must shift to nature-positive business models and production: renewable energies and sustainable supply chains… zero-waste policies and circular economies… regenerative agriculture and sustainable farming practices…
 
These must become the default for governments and businesses alike.
 
Second – we must agree on a strengthened monitoring and transparency framework.
 
This is not only vital for accountability but also about enabling course corrections and driving ambition.
 
Third – finance promises must be kept and support to developing countries accelerated.
 
We cannot afford to leave Cali without new pledges to adequately capitalize the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, and without commitments to mobilize other sources of public and private finance to deliver the Framework – in full.
 
And we must bring the private sector on board.
 
Those profiting from nature cannot treat it like a free, infinite resource.
 
They must step up and contribute to its protection and restoration.
 
By operationalizing the mechanism on the sharing of benefits from the use of Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources, we will give them one clear avenue to do so, bringing more equity and inclusivity.
 
Finally – in the spirit of this “COP de la gente”, we must engage all parts of society, in particular Indigenous Peoples, people of African descent, and local communities.
 
Too often, they have been on the sidelines of global environmental policy.
 
Too often, environmental defenders have been threatened and killed. 
 
Indigenous Peoples, people of African descent, and local communities are guardians of our nature.
 
Their traditional knowledge is a living library of biodiversity conservation.
 
They must be protected.
 
And they must be part of every biodiversity conversation.
 
The establishment of a permanent subsidiary body within the Convention on Biological Diversity would mark a significant step forward, ensuring Indigenous voices are heard at every stage of the process.
 
Peace with nature means peace with those who protect it. 
 
We must defend the people who defend nature.
 
Excellencies,
 
Across all these areas, we know progress is possible.
 
Many countries around the world are stepping up to lead the way.
 
Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia and Malaysia are leading by example by ramping up efforts to curb deforestation.  
 
The Congo Basin is intensifying efforts to increase protected area coverage.  
 
The European Union’s Nature Restoration Law is a step toward halting and reversing biodiversity loss.
 
Mobilizing all countries – each with different levels of wealth and capacities – is challenging.
 
But swift global cooperation can provide the defense we so desperately need – against wildfires, floods, extreme weather, and pandemics.
 
Last year’s Agreement on Marine Biodiversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction demonstrated our determination for every hectare of the planet. 
 
We need the same determination later in the year as countries come together to conclude negotiations on a landmark treaty to tackle plastic pollution.  
 
Let us be inspired and lifted by these examples.
 
Excellences, Chers amis,
 
Notre mission à Cali est claire : accélérer le progrès pour la biodiversité ; mobiliser les ressources nécessaires ; et renforcer le rôle des peuples autochtones, des personnes d'ascendance africaine et des communautés locales.
 
Nous pouvons – et nous devons – sauvegarder les écosystèmes qui nous font vivre et maintenir les objectifs climatiques à notre portée.
 
Tout autre chemin est impensable.
 
Il en va de la survie de la planète – et de la [nôtre].
 
Choisissons avec sagesse.
 
Choisissons la vie.
 
Faisons la paix avec la nature.
 
Je vous remercie.
 

Bilingual, as delivered
 
Ladies and gentlemen of the media.
 
I thank President Petro for hosting the United Nations Biodiversity Conference in Cali.
 
I congratulate Colombia on the excellent organization of this COP.
 
I also thank the people of Colombia for their warm welcome, we all felt very much at home.
 
The world has come to Cali to make peace with nature.
 
Let me be clear: we are facing an existential crisis.
 
Temperatures are climbing higher and higher.
 
We are losing more and more species – forever.
 
We are poisoning our waters.
 
And treating nature as a disposable asset.
 
Human activities have already altered three-quarters of Earth's land surface and two-thirds of its waters.
 
And no country, rich or poor, is immune to this devastation.
 
To survive, humanity must make peace with nature.
 
We must transform our economic models – shifting our production and consumption to nature-positive practices.
 
Renewable energy, sustainable supply chains and zero-waste policies are not optional.
 
They must become the default option for both governments and businesses.
 
Dear friends,
 
The good news is that we have a plan:
 
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted two years ago.
 
But nature cannot wait for its implementation any longer.
 
This is what this COP is about:
 
Turning promises into action.
 
We have seen good progress, and I want to thank everyone for their efforts.
 
But with less than two days of negotiations left to go, we need to accelerate.
 
I want to highlight three priorities.
 
First – Cali must spark a new era for ambitious national biodiversity plans.
 
As of today, a majority of countries have national targets that align with the Global Biodiversity Framework.
 
I urge every Member State to follow suit and align these national plans with their adaptation plans and updated climate Nationally Determined Contributions – due early next year.
 
We must also reach an agreement on a strengthened monitoring and transparency framework to ensure accountability and move forward together.
 
Second – we must leave Cali with concrete plans to unlock new funding and share the benefits from the use of genetic resources.
 
This means capitalizing the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund.
 
I thank the countries and regions that pledged an additional 163 million US dollars this week.
 
But if we are to deliver the Global Biodiversity Framework in full, we need much more.
 
We must make sure we are able to mobilize 200 billion dollars annually by 2030 from all sources – domestic, international, public and private.
 
Developed countries must lead the way and provide at least 20 billion dollars per year – by next year – to support developing countries, in particular the Least Developed Countries and Small Island States, in their conservation and restoration efforts.
 
Businesses profiting from nature must also contribute to its protection and restoration.
This includes operationalizing a mechanism for sharing the benefits from the use of the Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources – in a clear, fair and efficient way.
 
Third – we must recognize, involve, and protect those who guard our natural heritage.
 
Indigenous Peoples and local communities possess vital knowledge of biodiversity conservation.
 
And in this region, People of African descent are key custodians of natural resources.
 
They must all be at the center of our decisions, not on the sidelines.
 
In Cali, we must agree on the proposal to establish a new permanent body for Indigenous peoples and local communities within the Convention on Biological Diversity – ensuring their voices are heard at every step across the work of the Convention.
 
The clock is ticking.
 
The survival of our planet’s biodiversity – and our own survival – are on the line.
 
We don’t have a moment to lose.  
 
Señoras y señores de la prensa,
 
Mientras el mundo se reúne en este hermoso país para comprometerse a hacer la paz con la naturaleza, aprovecho la oportunidad para reafirmar nuestro compromiso con la paz en Colombia. 
 
Me complace estar de nuevo en Colombia en este momento propicio para cerrar los dolorosos capítulos de guerra y consolidar este ejemplo de paz ante el país y el mundo.
 
Saludo los esfuerzos renovados del Presidente Petro y su gobierno para acelerar la implementación del Acuerdo Final de Paz – incluso mediante el Plan de Choque que se enfoca en aspectos concretos para mejorar la calidad de vida en los territorios priorizados.
 
Asimismo, reconozco el compromiso firme de la otra parte firmante – los que fueron combatientes de las FARC-EP. 
 
Estos antiguos adversarios trabajan hoy como socios en la construcción de la paz.  
 
Llegando con avances y desafíos a su octavo aniversario, este histórico Acuerdo debe de mantenerse en el centro de los esfuerzos de consolidación de la paz.  
 
El Acuerdo sigue siendo la hoja de ruta principal para romper con los ciclos de violencia en Colombia.
 
Y también para enfrentar las causas estructurales de esta violencia mediante el compromiso de llevar la presencia integral del Estado a las regiones históricamente olvidadas.
 
Una presencia que conlleva seguridad, oportunidades de desarrollo y gobernanza inclusiva. 
 
No debe haber más demora para que los dividendos de paz lleguen a todos los territorios. A todos aquellos pueblos que todavía esperan que se concrete la promesa de paz.
 
Asegurar la justicia para las víctimas también es impostergable.
 
Reconozco la noble y valiente labor del sistema pionero de justicia transicional creado por el Acuerdo. Y animo a que avance. 
 
La Paz Total impulsada por el gobierno nacional es un objetivo loable.
 
Las iniciativas de diálogo, a pesar de los desafíos, buscan ampliar la paz en el país de manera complementaria al Acuerdo de Paz.
 
Aconsejo no dejarse desviar del camino del diálogo.
 
Estos diálogos son oportunidades para acabar con la violencia que sigue azotando a las poblaciones de regiones que también son claves para la implementación del Acuerdo de Paz.
 
Especialmente a las comunidades Indígenas y Afrocolombianas, a los desplazados y confinados por los grupos armados, a las mujeres víctimas de la violencia sexual y a los niños y niñas reclutados en la guerra.
 
Hoy, mi llamado al pueblo colombiano es de perseverar.
 
Que trabajen juntos para que sea un esfuerzo nacional, compartido. 
 
Les quiero recordar que Colombia nunca estará sola en sus esfuerzos por la paz.
 
Será un honor seguir acompañando a Colombia en su camino hacia la paz, a través de la Misión de Verificación de la ONU y las agencias y programas del equipo de país.
 
Cuenten siempre con mi apoyo y mi solidaridad con Colombia, así como con mi profunda gratitud por la confianza que han otorgado a las Naciones Unidas.
 
Estaremos siempre al lado de Colombia.