Hey Everyone,
This is the statement that we prepared at the International Youth Conference on Biodiversity in Nagoya, Japan in August of 2010. It was presented at the COP10 to world leaders.
Jack Simpson
International Youth Statement on Biodiversity
International Youth Conference on Biodiversity in Aichi 2010
Aichi, Japan
August 23rd~26th, 2010
Chapter 1 General Discussion
Vision for 2050
We, the participants of the conference;
• expect measures to be taken towards halting the anthropogenic causes of biodiversity loss
by 2020, so as to rehabilitate biodiversity by 2050.
• expect biodiversity to be understood and respected by 2020, in order to build a society that
co-exists sustainably with all species by 2050.
• expect all governments to conserve biodiversity, regulate the use of natural resources, and
ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from biodiversity by 2020.
Current State
We, the participants of the conference;
• recognize that the 2010 Biodiversity Target* has not been achieved and therefore
biodiversity loss continues at a critical rate.
* “a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional
and national level as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on
Earth.”
• recognize that unsustainable economic development is increasingly causing biodiversity
loss and compromising ecosystem services;
• recognize that current international cooperation on biodiversity protection is not sufficient,
and that existing policies are not integrated sufficiently to achieve the expected results.
Chapter 2 Specific Discussion
2.1 Reduction of the pressures on biodiversity and conservation of biodiversity risk
2.1.1 Direct Pressure
Vision for 2050
We, the participants of the conference;
• urge that biodiversity issues be incorporated into climate change mitigation and adaptation
strategies as part of a post-2012 agreement in order to minimize the impact of climate
change on biodiversity by 2050.
• call on governments to implement a legally binding framework that defines targets for
monitoring, reporting and evaluating the state of biodiversity by 2020, in order to achieve a
society which respects and understands biodiversity by 2050.
Current State
We, the participants of the conference;
• recognize that climate change is aggravating the pressures on biodiversity.
• recognize that market mechanisms that can have positive effects on biodiversity, such as
REDD+*, should be further researched and promoted where appropriate.
*REDD+ stands for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation plus
Conservation（REDD+） and includes the role of conservation, sustainable management
of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.
• recognize that marine and coastal biodiversity is threatened by pollution, overexploitation
and climate change, especially ocean acidification, and that agricultural biodiversity is
threatened by the adoption of improper agricultural practices.
Youth Action:
We, the participants of the conference;
• aim to stop activities which contribute to environmental degradation, such as pollution, the
overexploitation of natural resources, the spread of invasive alien species, and climate
change.
2.1.2 Indirect Driver
Vision for 2050
We, the participants of the conference;
• expect that when planning future economic activities higher priority and importance will
be placed on verifying and quantifying the value of biodiversity.
• expect national and local governments to have developed an effective framework and
provided sufficient funding for the complete implementation and enforcement of the
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and related protocols by 2020.
Current State
We, the participants of the conference;
• recognize that economic pressures often hinder the enforcement of effective laws for
biodiversity conservation, leading to unsustainable resource use.
• recognize that NGOs, local authorities, and civil society have made efforts to conserve
ecosystems, but that a lack of funding still exists.
Youth Action
We, the participants of the conference;
• urge governments to implement national legislation and enforce judgments to address
environmental degradation and support civil society and the private sector to ensure that
their actions do not adversely affect biodiversity.
2.2 Sustainable use of the benefits from biodiversity and preservation and promotion of
culture and tradition concerning sustainable use of biodiversity
Vision for 2050
We, the participants of the conference;
• expect the implementation of binding and enforceable laws including a protocol on Access
and Benefit Sharing（ABS）by 2015, immediately after ratification by parties, thus ensuring
the sustainable use of biodiversity and the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from its
utilization.
• expect biodiversity to be managed, drawing on local knowledge concerning its sustainable
use, and technology to be transferred to developing countries in compliance with CBD Art.
8(j)* and CBD Art. 16**.
* Art. 8(j) Subject to its national legislation, respect, preserve and maintain knowledge,
innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional
lifestyles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and
promote their wider application with the approval and involvement of the holders of such
knowledge, innovations and practices and encourage the equitable sharing of the benefits
arising from the utilization of such knowledge, innovations and practices;
** Article 16. Access to and Transfer of technology
• expect developed and developing countries to fully recognize their shared but
differentiated responsibilities in implementing sustainable natural resource management
strategies, in order to meet their needs concerning food security, energy use and water
provision issues.
Current State
We, the participants of the conference;
• recognize that economic development is often prioritized over environmental conservation,
causing a loss of biodiversity.
• recognize that laws and regulations concerning the sustainable use of biodiversity have not
been adequately implemented.
• recognize that traditional knowledge on the conservation of biodiversity is neither
sufficiently valued nor promoted.
Youth Action
We, the participants of the conference;
• encourage environmentally-friendly lifestyles, including the sustainable use of resources,
and the use of clean and renewable energies.
• encourage participation in activities at the local and national levels that stimulate
businesses, civil society and governments to promote the sustainable use of biodiversity.
• aim to collaborate with international campaigns and initiatives, and improve international
networks for coordinated action regarding the sustainable use of biodiversity.
2.3 Raising awareness of biodiversity and promoting the involvement of civil society in its
conservation and sustainable use
2.3.1 Lack of Knowledge
Vision for 2050
We, the participants of the conference;
• expect all people to fully understand the value of biodiversity and the importance of its
conservation by 2020, and expect them to be involved in conserving biodiversity by 2050.
• expect all national and local governments to integrate environmental programs at all
educational levels by 2020, to ensure that everyone has access to education on biodiversity.
• expect a wide range of media to promote the importance of biodiversity conservation by
2020.
Current State
We, the participants of the conference;
• recognize that although efforts have been made to increase awareness of the importance of
biodiversity, knowledge of the urgency of the problem is still lacking.
Youth Action
We, the participants of the conference;
• aim to improve accessibility to information about biodiversity;
• aim to promote environmental campaigns more effectively to raise awareness of
biodiversity;
2.3.2 Lack of involvement
Vision for 2050
We, the participants of the conference;
• urge governments to provide full access to justice in environmental matters for all citizens
and NGOs by 2020, as well as the enforcement of the resulting judgments, in order to
ensure the full involvement of civil society by 2050.
• call for increased support and collaboration in scientific research on biodiversity, in order
to better understand the significance of biodiversity.
Current State
We, the participants of the conference;
• recognize that decision makers often lack the will or ability to spread knowledge on the
repercussions of economic development for biodiversity, and urge them to develop truly
sustainable policies in this area..
• draw attention to the fact that involvement in biodiversity conservation is inefficient, due
to a lack of knowledge, funding, cooperation and enforcing legislation.
Youth Action
We, the participants of the conference;
• pledge to take further action in deepening and spreading the awareness of the fundamental
value of biodiversity;
• aim to create reliable partnerships between all stakeholders for the conservation of
biodiversity, bearing in mind the value of their respective knowledge;
• seek to list and promote practices inspired by the best practice recommendations for
business and government of the report on ‘The Economics of Ecosystems and
Biodiversity’ (TEEB).
Chapter 2.4 None of the above
Vision for 2050
We, the participants of the conference;
• expect that by 2020, a global platform on the conservation of biodiversity will have been
set up to enable and reinforce youth action;
• expect ecosystem services to be sustainably managed in coordination between
governments, organizations and local communities
• expect national and local governments to set regulations immediately that ensure the
judicious use of GMOs and protect native varieties.
• expect coordinated management of protected areas between governments, NGOs, and local
communities.
Current State
We, the participants of the conference;
• recognize that currently there is no adequate regulation of access to genetic resources, that
benefits arising from their use are not equally shared, and that bio-piracy is not sufficiently
prevented.
• recognize that the safety of GMOs is not guaranteed and that their significant impacts on
biodiversity, posing threats to future generations, still needs to be further researched.
Youth Action
We, the participants of the conference;
• encourage youth to create a global biodiversity platform in order to increase international
cooperation among youth organizations by sharing their respective practices.
• seek sponsorship from the public and private sectors to support the promotion of
environmental-friendly behaviors.
• aim to raise people's awareness of the potential consequences of the use of GMOs, and
encourage the use of native species.
