Cyprus ready to commit to halt the loss of biodiversity, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment, Costas Kadis has said, addressing the 15th UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15) that takes place in Montreal, Canada.
Governments from around the world come together to agree on a new set of goals to guide global action through 2030 to halt and reverse nature loss. The Conference is attended by representatives of states that have adopted the relevant Convention.
According to a press release by the Ministry, Cyprus is part of the group of 119 states that support the protection of 30% of terrestrial and 30% of marine ecosystems by 2030 (High Ambition Coalition).
Addressing the Conference, Kadis expressed Cyprus’ readiness to commit to a framework of ambitious goals to halt the loss of biodiversity. He said that in Cyprus, already, more than 30% of the land area under the control of the Republic of Cyprus, is governed by a special protection regime for its ecosystems and species.
Cyprus, he said, is implementing its National Biodiversity Strategy which is based on the European and Global Biodiversity Strategy.
He also pointed out that each state can make a difference, even small states like Cyprus, and called on all countries to contribute to the global effort to stop the loss of biodiversity.
The Cypriot delegation participates in the daily coordination meetings held by the member states of the European Union, where they determine the ambitious goals to be pursued during the negotiation between all the countries participating in the Convention.
The Conference will conclude on December 19. In addition to reaching an agreement on the goals that will be set, it is expected that the Conference will result in the mobilization of the funds that will be required to achieve these goals.
Source: Cyprus News Agency