28 October 2024, Plaza One – Academia and Research, CBD COP 16
OPENING REMARKS
Dr. Theresa Mundita S. Lim
Executive Director, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity
- Ms. Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, ably represented by Mr Lijei Cai;
- H.E. Nik Nazmi bin Nik Ahmad, Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability of Malaysia
- H.E. Soukvilay Vilavong, Deputy Director, Environmental Policy Division, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Lao PDR
- H.E. Ernesto Adobo, Jr., Undersecretary for Legal and Administration, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Philippines
- Honourable representatives of the ASEAN Member States;
- Our valued stakeholders from the development sector, the private sector, the youth, and IPLCs;
- Colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, good evening.
- First, let me extend our gratitude to Executive Secretary Astrid Schomaker for joining us despite her busy COP schedule.
- We are also honoured by the presence of Excellencies Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad of Malaysia next year’s chair of ASEAN and Dr. Soukvilay Vilavong representing Lao PDR, ASEAN’s current chair. We’re pleased that Undersecretary Ernesto Adobo of the Philippines will join our panel discussions, alongside other esteemed representatives from ASEAN Member States and our regional partners.
- ASEAN is a vibrant hub of economic growth, with biodiversity at its core. While covering only 3% of the world’s land and marine area, ASEAN supports 26% of all known plant and animal species, 60% of the world’s tropical peatlands, and 34% of global coral species.
- With over 660 million people relying on its natural resources, ASEAN recognises that biodiversity and ecosystem services offer vast opportunities for livelihoods and economic development, contribute to poverty alleviation, drive technology and innovation, and serve as powerful tools for climate adaptation, mitigation, and disaster resilience across the region.
- In line with this, ASEAN Member States, supported by the ACB and the ASEAN Secretariat, have developed the ASEAN Biodiversity Plan (ABP)—a regional framework that charts how ASEAN can contribute to global biodiversity targets and advance ASEAN’s Community Vision, while aligning with each Member State’s National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans. Today, we are all here to launch this important milestone.
- ACB’s designation as one of the world’s 18 regional/subregional technical and scientific support centres for the implementation of the KM GBF places it in a strategic position to advance ASEAN’s priorities, foster cooperation among ASEAN Member States, and secure support for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use.
- As emphasised at COP 16, the TSCs will serve as catalysts for technical and scientific collaboration amongst the Convention’s Parties facilitating the sharing of technical knowledge, scientific data, expertise, resources, technologies and innovations.
- Since this COP is tagged as ‘la COP de la gente’ or a COP of the people, we brought together stakeholders from different governments, the private sector, youth, indigenous peoples and local communities, academia, scientific communities, and non-governmental organisations to share their experiences and gather their insights in effectively contributing towards achieving regional and global biodiversity goals and targets.
- While essential frameworks are in place to help us “make peace with nature,” the greater challenge is now in implementing these plans. As we have heard from UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the opening of COP 16 last week, our task is to convert words into action. This requires not only clear, ambitious, and realistic plans but also a robust monitoring framework to track our progress against targets and encourage meaningful investments to support our resolve.
- Our success now lies in the power of inclusive and collective action – a whole-of-society approach that allows us to pursue economic development without compromising environmental sustainability. This is now the ASEAN way and we would like everyone to be a part of it.
- Thank you very much. We look forward to a productive and engaging session this evening.
