A high-level meeting of a U.N. biodiversity conference adopted the Gangwon Declaration on October 16. The declaration was adopted at the High Level Segment of the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP12), which took place in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do (Ganwon Province), on October 15 and 16.

Considering the importance of the timing of the international gathering, COP12 adopted the new declaration, its first over the past ten years, at the convention level. Korea proposed the declaration, as it was the convention's host country. Final agreement on the declaration was made after one year’s preparation and negotiation.

The Gangwon Declaration covers major issues of the conference and initiatives of environment ministries worldwide, who urged countries to ratify the earlier Nagoya Protocol and emphasized the mainstreaming of biodiversity. The declaration also contains a message welcoming the "Peace and Biodiversity Dialogue Initiative" proposed by Korea for the conservation of biodiversity in worldwide border areas. The declaration holds significance because this is only the fourth adoption of a declaration in the COP12's history.

 

In the declaration, signatories agreed to make biodiversity a major issue in future discussions for setting sustainable development goals and the Post-2015 Development Agenda of the U.N. They expressed support for the Pyeongchang Roadmap in order to achieve world biodiversity goals, known as the “Aichi Targets,” by 2020. Participants also pushed for negotiations to make progress on mobilizing finances in this regard.

In the declaration, they also welcomed the Korea-led biodiversity initiatives, including the “Bio-Bridge Initiative” for science and technology cooperation on biodiversity, the “Forest Ecosystem Restoration Initiative,” and the “Sustainable Ocean Initiative.”

The Korean Ministry of Environment said that this gathering was held at a critical time to decide whether to implement a 2011-2020 strategic plan for biodiversity and to achieve the goals of the 2020 Aichi Targets. The ministry expects the adoption of the Gangwon Declaration to present a broad direction for Korea to play the role as chair of the COP12 over the next two years.

By Wi Tack-whan, Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writers
Photos: Ministry of Environment

whan23@korea.kr