THE ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA TEN YEARS AFTER RIO: SUCCESSES, FAILURES AND PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE

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THE ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDATEN YEARS AFTER RIO
SUCCESSES, FAILURES AND PROSPECTS FOR THE FUTURE

• Keynote address by
• Olivier Jalbert
• Principal Officer
• Secretariat of the Convention on Biological
  Diversity

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From Rio to Johannesburg

• Successes and failures in achieving the
  objectivesset out in Rio
• Activities under the Convention on Biological
  Diversity
• Prospects for the next decade

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Major accomplishments since Rio

• Effectiveness in addressing specific issues
• (Montreal Protocol, Biosafety Protocol, PIC,
  POPs and Basel Conventions)
• Development and application of key concepts such
  as the precautionary approach
• Increased awareness
• Integration of environmental considerations in
  policy making
• Long term strategies at national level

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Lessons to be learned

• Progress in easy when there is large consensus on
  the need to address a problem
• Consensus is easier when the problem is well
  circumscribed and stakes similar to all
• Leadership from developed countries
• Disasters create proper environment for action
• Scientific certainty as regards nature and
  remedies is key

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Shortcomings

• The overall negative trends have not been
  reversed
• Climate change
• Loss of biodiversity
• Land degradation, etc.
• Sustainable development remains elusive goal
• Efforts undermined by
• Lack of scientific certainty
• Long-term nature of problems and their
  consequences
• Impact on economy complexity of the problems

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The Convention on Biological Diversity

• Near universal 180 Parties
• Prompted by the alarming loss of biodiversity
• (animals, plants and microorganisms)
• Basic objectives
• Conservation
• Sustainable use
• Access to genetic resources and fair and
  equitable sharing of the benefits of their
  utilization

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Institutions
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Main causes of biodiversity loss

• Loss and fragmentation of habitat
• Introduction of alien species
• Overharvesting
• Poverty
• Climate change
• Pollution

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The value of biodiversity

• It has economic value
• It supports such diverse industries as
  agriculture, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, pulp and
  paper, etc.
• It provides goods and services
• It has aesthetical, social and ethical value

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Activities under the CBDThematic Areas

• Forest biodiversity
• Agricultural biodiversity
• Inland water biodiversity
• Marine and coastal biodiversity
• Dryland biodiversity

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Examples of cross-cutting issues

• Alien species
• Tourism
• Incentive measures
• Scientific assessments
• Indicators
• Taxonomy

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Challenges for the CBD

• Raising public awareness and understanding of the
  importance of biodiversity
• Mobilizing additional financial resources
• Development and implementation of national
  strategies
• Reach consensus on access to genetic resources
  and sharing of benefits
• Give recognition and protection to traditional
  knowledge
• Sound scientific basis to underpin action

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Prospects for the next decade

• Environmental problems will become more acute
• Pressures for greater transparency and increased
  role of civil society
• Increased interaction between trade and
  environment mainstreaming of environmental
  concerns
• More comprehensive approach to problems greater
  synergy
• Advance in science (biotechnology) will lead to
  new challenges
• Greater emphasis on techniques for assessing
  environmental risk