Shumei Attends the First Ever United Nations Summit on Biodiversity, and Additional High – Level Events
Shumei International attended the inaugural United Nations Summit on Biodiversity which took place last week from September 30th – October 1st during the first two days of the UN General Assembly meetings. This year’s theme was “Urgent Action on Biodiversity for Sustainable Development”, stressing how 2020 is a crucial moment for governments and world leaders to come together to formerly articulate their intentions to take action to achieve goals which will protect the world’s biodiversity in the lead-up to the post-2020 biodiversity framework for CBD COP 15 (Conference of the Parties to the Convention) which is scheduled to take place in China in 2021.
In attendance at the Summit were heads of state from around the world, including His Royal Highness Charles, the Prince of Wales, who gave opening remarks. Prince Charles stressed how Nature is central to all aspects of human existence, and the importance of putting people, planet and Nature at the “heart of the economy”. He articulated several steps local communities and civil society can take to restore and protect biodiversity, including the need for more regenerative agriculture, organic and no – till farming to help replenish soil fertility. He also discussed education and how it needs emphasize the importance of how to achieve harmony with nature through circular economies.
Shumei International also attended the Leaders’ Pledge for Nature event on September 28-29 which was a dialogue surrounding how to reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 to conceive the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Delegates spoke about how the crisis of biodiversity loss is an interdependent one which is driven by unsustainable consumption and affects all facets of society. UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that human beings are at a war with Nature, and Nature is fighting back, and how we must make 2021 a year for Nature.
The Natural Agriculture approach to farming emphasizes the interconnectedness of Nature with all life – a point which was reiterated by world leaders during the Summit. As biodiversity is so central to the health of the planet, Shumei International believes the Summit on Biodiversity is an important step in the right direction to achieving the global sustainable development goals and putting Nature first. Shumei International is looking forward to these important conversations about protecting biodiversity through regenerative systems continuing.
