{"id":4696,"date":"2019-08-19T09:32:48","date_gmt":"2019-08-19T06:32:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/africasustainabilitymatters.com\/?p=4696"},"modified":"2026-01-11T05:30:28","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T05:30:28","slug":"18th-meeting-of-the-conference-of-parties-to-the-convention-on-international-trade-in-endangered-species","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rayscohosting.best\/ASM\/2019\/08\/19\/18th-meeting-of-the-conference-of-parties-to-the-convention-on-international-trade-in-endangered-species\/","title":{"rendered":"18th Meeting Of The Conference Of Parties To The Convention On International Trade In Endangered Species"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>By the UN Environment<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Excellency Federal\nCounselor Alain Berset, Chairwoman Carolina&nbsp;Caceres, Chair of CITES\nStanding Committee Secretary General Ivonne Higuero Ministers, Ambassadors,\ndistinguished guests, partners, colleagues and friends.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thank you for the\nopportunity to speak to you today at this important gathering, the 18<sup>th<\/sup>Conference\nof the Parties (CoP) to CITES.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, I would like to\nexpress my deepest condolences to the people of&nbsp;Sri Lanka&nbsp;and to the\nfamilies of the victims of the terrorist attack in&nbsp;Sri Lanka. We mourn the\nloss and will honor the victims, as we recommit to fight the scourge of terror\nin all its forms. We also express our deep appreciation to&nbsp;Sri\nLanka&nbsp;for its enormous commitment to CITES as it prepared for hosting the\n18<sup>th<\/sup>&nbsp;CoP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the occasion of the\nopening of this CoP, I also want to recall, and celebrate the life of Edna\nMolewa, who was the Chair of CoP17, which we held in&nbsp;Johannesburg. We lost\nEdna tragically and much too soon. Edna was a giant in the environmental world.\nShe is deeply missed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And I would like to\nexpress my sincere thanks to the CITES Secretariat host country, Switzerland,\nfor the continued support as host of the Secretariat and for the extraordinary\nsupport that Switzerland has provided to ensure that in just two months, we can\nhold the CoP here in support of the mission and mandate of CITES.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because by regulating\ntrade in over 36,000 species, the Convention has been a key conservation tool\nfor over forty years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">NEW ALLIES<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since coming into\nforce in 1975, political and financial support to CITES has varied over the\nyears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, however, CITES\nis strong and it has new allies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sustaining life on\nearth has taken center stage, where it belongs, helped by young activists,\nmedia, policymakers, scientists, politicians, and society at large; all of whom\nunderstand the imperative of conservation and who understand the importance of\nensuring a sound regulation of trade of flora and fauna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We have a chance to\ntake advantage of this groundswell of support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It may well be our\nlast chance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SCIENCE AS THE\nFOUNDATION<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We are losing species\nat a rate never seen before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The populations of\nmammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and fish fell 60% between 1970 and 2014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The recent IPBES\nreport found that we are set to lose, within this century, at least one million\nout of the nearly eight million species on earth unless we take action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Habit destruction\nshows no sign of abating, with humanity gobbling up land for agriculture,\ninfrastructure and urban expansion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unfortunately, it is projected that we are not going to meet most of the Aichi Targets on reducing biodiversity loss.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But we can change our\nways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With the public\nincreasing awareness and involvement, we can find a workable balance between\npeople and nature. And here CITES can become an even stronger force for good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">CITES is, after all, about balance: between the need to protect species of plants and animals from extinction and the need for nations to use these resources for trade, growth, and development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">CITES WORKS<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I want to be clear\nhere. CITES works. Regulated and sustainable trade works. Sustainable use\nworks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I could cite many\nexamples of successes, but let me mention just one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Crocodiles were listed\nin 1975, in response to severe depletion.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The crocodile industry\nis now worth over 100 million dollars a year, the illegal trade has all but\nvanished and crocodiles are far more abundant than they were 50 years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, there are\ndisagreements on approaches under CITES, and some approaches have worked better\nin some places than others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But this is normal in\nany collective process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The United Nations\nEnvironment Programme remains committed to working with the CITES Secretariat\nand with Parties to bring more success in advancing sustainable trade in\nwildlife and plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this spirit, I come\nto you with three messages to inform your deliberations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>EFFECTIVE MULTILATERALISM<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Firstly, we need more\neffective multilateralism to solve the wildlife trade challenges of the 21<sup>st<\/sup>century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We need a robust\ngovernance system that accommodates different views and enables conversations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The drivers of species\nloss are multilateral in nature. Addressing them requires the same approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>So how do we work\nbetter together in a multilateral system?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">CITES VISION<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A starting point is to\nacknowledge that our&nbsp;tools, processes and mechanisms may need to be\nrefreshed in an increasingly complex world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We&nbsp;must deliver\non a longer-term vision for CITES that reflects these new realities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/cites.org\/sites\/default\/files\/eng\/cop\/18\/doc\/E-CoP18-010.pdf\">strategic vision<\/a>&nbsp;for the next 10\nyears is on the table for Parties\u2019 consideration.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In order to implement\nthis vision, we need to use the best science and data to look at future\nscenarios and plan for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ambition of this vision has to be matched by collective action.\u00a0 We need all parties to commit to this process.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>So how do we work\nbetter together and across the multilateral system?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SYNERGIES ACROSS MEAs\nBEYOND BIODIVERSITY<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another key element in\nworking better together is increasing synergies with other Multilateral\nAgreements (MEAs) and processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I am here referring\nyes, to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the post-2020 biodiversity\nframework, but I am also looking beyond. Because the very drivers of\nbiodiversity loss and unsustainable trade that Parties will be discussing here\nemerge from decisions made in other corridors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To give just two\nexamples:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Wild animals, fish, and plants support the basic needs of some of the world\u2019s poorest people. Yet overharvesting can jeopardize wild populations and limit future trade potential.\u00a0<\/li><li>We all need energy and transportation to live meaningful lives. Yet, poorly planned infrastructure degrades habitats, opens them up to unsustainable exploitation and threatens wildlife and plants.\u00a0<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ministers of planning,\nenergy, infrastructure and finance need our help to tackle these issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We need all parties to commit to reach out to other ministries to bring these issues to the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Banks and other\nfinancial backers also need our help to make wiser decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>So how do we work\nbetter together in a multilateral system?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">STAY AT THE TABLE AND\nUSE CITES FOR WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Working better\ntogether also means staying at the table within the CITES process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I understand that some\nParties may not be satisfied with how this Convention supports their own\ndevelopment aspirations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But now is not the\ntime to let divisions overtake us. The trade in wildlife and plants is too\ninterconnected for nations to tackle alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We must listen to the\narguments, weigh the evidence and do what is right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just as we must ensure that pressures on species that fall outside the scope of CITES are treated within the MEAs, where such matters are best handled so that we do not create confusion among the MEA instruments that the Member States have created. Rather, we should ensure that each instrument plays its rightful role in the broader orchestra so that each instrument is used to it\u2019s fullest extent with respect to mandate, mission and vision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>PEOPLE AT THE CENTER<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Ladies and Gentlemen,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As important as\nmultilateralism is, we must remember it is not the sole preserve of\ngovernments. And this is my second message.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We must widen our\napproaches to include people who manage and live with wildlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Part of this lies in\nenforcement, and there have been many positive collaborative efforts on\nenforcement amongst Parties.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The recent cooperation\nof 109 countries under Operation Thunderball coordinated by Interpol and the\nWorld Customs Organization was a huge success, leading to nearly 600 arrests\nand the seizure of thousands of protected animals, plants, and wildlife\nproducts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But the number of\nspecies being considered at this CoP tells us we must work smarter and more\ncollaboratively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Parties need to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/cites.org\/sites\/default\/files\/eng\/cop\/18\/doc\/E-CoP18-015-05.pdf\">continue supporting<\/a>&nbsp;the\nInternational Consortium to Combat Wildlife Crime to ensure coordinated global\nbacking for the law enforcement community.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We must also be\nrelentless in our efforts to root out all forms of corruption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, enforcement alone will not make illegal trade go away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Poverty and a lack of\nopportunity are also factors that drive some people into crime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To combat these\ndrivers, we&nbsp;need a&nbsp;sustainable wildlife economy that benefits people\nand nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Parties should, therefore, balance investment in enforcement with social and economic incentives to address the needs of the people living closest to wildlife. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Communities must be\ntreated as equal partners, with their own conservation and development\naspirations valued alongside global desires to conserve species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Work on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/cites.org\/sites\/default\/files\/eng\/cop\/18\/doc\/E-CoP18-018-01-R1.pdf\">livelihoods<\/a>&nbsp;has advanced\nsince the last CoP. However, we need to fully integrate these issues into\neffective decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Specific processes for\nintegrating community and livelihood issues into national level CITES\ndecision-making must be expanded and shared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I encourage parties to\nenhance and support this work, as proposed by the Secretariat and many Parties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>ANCHOR IN SCIENCE<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">My last message to you\nis that we must keep our anchor in science. After all, CITES is a science-based\ndecision-making body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Only by truly\nunderstanding species and the role they play in ecosystems can we make wise\ndecisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We need only to look\nat what is happening with climate change, the direct result of building our\neconomies on fossil fuels, to see the risk inherent in decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Science helps to\nmitigate risks and, if we listen to it, brings us back on track should we err.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Ladies and Gentlemen<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The future of biodiversity\nis at stake, but as I said earlier, we have a unique opportunity to change\ncourse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">2020 will be the super\nyear for environmental decision-making. The Paris Agreement is set to go in to\neffect. The post-2020 biodiversity framework is to be agreed. The Oceans\nConference will take place. And the IUCN World Conservation Congress will be\nheld.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here at CITES CoP18,\nwe are setting the stage and charting the path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We need to ensure the\ndecisions we make at this CoP set the right tone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We must ensure they\ninform and drive the most robust and ambitious decisions to save biodiversity\non our planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thank you very much\nand I wish you much success for the critical work in the coming days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Inger Andersen<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Executive Director<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.unenvironment.org\/news-and-stories\/speech\/18th-meeting-conference-parties-convention-international-trade-endangered\">original article<\/a> on the UN Environment<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By the UN Environment Excellency Federal Counselor Alain Berset, Chairwoman Carolina&nbsp;Caceres, Chair of CITES Standing Committee Secretary General Ivonne Higuero Ministers, Ambassadors, distinguished guests, partners, colleagues and friends. Thank you&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4697,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[101],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4696","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-international-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rayscohosting.best\/ASM\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4696","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rayscohosting.best\/ASM\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rayscohosting.best\/ASM\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rayscohosting.best\/ASM\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rayscohosting.best\/ASM\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4696"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/rayscohosting.best\/ASM\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4696\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rayscohosting.best\/ASM\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4697"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rayscohosting.best\/ASM\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4696"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rayscohosting.best\/ASM\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4696"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rayscohosting.best\/ASM\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4696"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}