BEIJING, May 29, 2024 -- A United Nations (UN) official on Tuesday stressed the significance of the launch of the Kunming Biodiversity Fund, calling it critical to the support for developing countries in biodiversity conservation.

 

Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program Inger Andersen made the remarks following the signing ceremony of the fund in Beijing on Tuesday.

 

As the chair of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, China has led the successful establishment of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

 

Under the framework, 23 goals were established to support biodiversity conservation. Fulfilling the goals are challenging for some developing countries, Andersen said, calling for concerted efforts from all countries to take action and make contribution to biodiversity conservation.

 

In 2021, China pledged 1.5 billion yuan (over 210 million U.S. dollars) for the establishment of the new fund.

 

The UN official spoke highly of China's achievements in ecological protection over the past years, including the implementation of the ecological red-line policy, the establishment of national parks, and the conservation of wetlands. She in particular mentioned China's significant growth of mangroves and protection of the endangered species wild giant panda.

 

"China has positive lessons at home in conserving biodiversity. Therefore, we will hope to also learn from those lessons and transfer them to other countries," Andersen said.