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A RED ALERT FOR OUR WORLD

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres is calling for unity among the global community to tackle overwhelming challenges. “I am not issuing an appeal. I am issuing an alert – a red alert for our world. Conflicts have deepened and new dangers have emerged,” said the Secretary-General.

The Secretary-General added: "I truly believe we can make our world more safe and secure. We can settle conflicts, overcome hatred and defend shared values. But we can only do that together. I urge leaders everywhere: Narrow the gaps. Bridge the divides. Rebuild trust by bringing people together around common goals. Unity is the path. Our future depends on it." Antonio Guterres.

The United Nations central mission is the maintenance of international peace and security. “Sustaining peace is both a goal and a process that relies on building a common and cohesive vision of a society that takes the needs of all into account,” stated Secretary-General António Guterres.

The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity has already integrated peace issues into its work. Dr. Cristiana Paşca Palmer, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, and Secretary-General António Guterres discussed the ever-evolving issues surrounding biodiversity and its growing complex challenges around the globe, including the strong inter-linkages between ecosystems resilience, peace, security, and more broadly, the resilience of the human systems.

The Peace and Biodiversity Dialogue Initiative (PBDI) promotes transboundary cooperation in protected areas globally. Through the PBDI, Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity can share knowledge and best practices in transboundary cooperation. They may also wish to strengthen existing cooperation mechanisms or develop new ones with the facilitation of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and many partners with expertise in this regard.

“Peace, development and environmental protection are interdependent and indivisible.” The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, Principle 25.