Biodiversity Loss Demands Urgent Global Action, Says UN Chief

Thursday, 22 May 2025, 11:17 am
Press Release: UN News

In a message marking Thursday’s International Day for
Biological Diversity, the UN chief raised alarm over the
“lightning pace” of degradation of the natural
world.

“Biodiversity is the bedrock of life and a
cornerstone of sustainable development,” Mr. Guterres
said.

“Yet humanity is destroying biodiversity at
lightening pace, the result of pollution, climate crisis,
ecosystem destruction and – ultimately – short-term
interests fuelling the unsustainable use of our natural
world.”

He stressed that no country, “however rich
or powerful,” can address the crisis in isolation, nor
thrive without the ecological richness that defines life on
Earth.

Alarm bells ringing

The International
Day comes amid stark concern for the future: one million
species are at risk of extinction, 75 per cent of land
ecosystems and two-thirds of marine environments have been
significantly altered by human activity.

Furthermore,
if current trends continue, progress towards eight of the 17
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) could be
jeopardized.

Mr. Guterres called for urgent
implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity
Framework, the landmark agreement adopted to halt and
reverse nature loss by 2030.

This includes delivering
on national biodiversity action plans, scaling finance for
conservation, shifting harmful subsidies, and supporting
local communities, Indigenous Peoples, women and
youth.

Live in harmony with nature

Biological
diversity underpins food security, livelihoods, health and
climate resilience.

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Roughly three billion people eat
fish for 20 a per cent of their animal protein intake, and
80 per cent of rural populations in developing countries
rely on plant-based medicine.

Yet the destruction of
natural habitats is also increasing the risk of zoonotic
disease transmission, making biodiversity preservation a key
factor in global health.

“Living in harmony with
nature and sustainable development is humanity’s path to a
better world for all,” Mr. Guterres said, echoing this
year’s theme.

“Together, let us take
it.”

The International Day

The UN officially
designated 22 May as the International Day for Biological
Diversity in 2000 to increase understanding and awareness of
biodiversity issues.

The date marks the adoption of
the Convention on Biological Diversity in
1992.

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