Cali - New York: Europe and the Arabs
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, stressed that biodiversity is an ally of humanity, and that "we must move from its plunder to its preservation," reiterating that reconciliation with nature is the defining task of the twenty-first century. According to what was reported by the daily bulletin of the United Nations, which added, "
The statements of the Secretary-General came in his speech before the high-level segment of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16) held in the Colombian city of Cali. Guterres said: "Nature is life. And yet we are waging a war against it. A war in which there can be no winners." He pointed out that no country, rich or poor, is immune from the devastation caused by climate change, loss of biodiversity, land degradation and pollution, adding that "environmental crises are intertwined. It knows no borders, destroys ecosystems and livelihoods, threatens human health and undermines sustainable development.

He referred to the Declaration of the Global Alliance for Peace with Nature adopted at the conference, stressing that it is a call to action to strengthen national and international efforts towards a balanced and harmonious relationship with nature, and to protect, conserve, restore and sustainably use it and share global biodiversity.
The Charter for the Future and Environmental Protection
The UN Secretary-General referred to the Charter for the Future adopted by Member States at the Summit for the Future in September, which recognizes the need to accelerate efforts to restore, protect, conserve and sustainably use the environment, and emphasizes the importance of halting and reversing deforestation and forest degradation by 2030, and other terrestrial and marine ecosystems.
Guterres said that this means preserving biodiversity, with an emphasis on social and environmental safeguards in line with the Paris Climate Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
The Secretary-General outlined a set of steps to turn promises into action, including all countries submitting clear and ambitious plans at the national level And detailed to be in line with the objectives of the Kunming-Montreal Framework, agree on an enhanced monitoring and transparency framework, deliver on financial promises and accelerate support to developing countries.

He added that “in the spirit of the COP for Peoples, we must engage all components of society, especially indigenous peoples, people of African descent and local communities,” describing them as “the guardians of our nature,” calling for their protection and for them to be part of every discussion on biodiversity.

“We choose life”
The Secretary-General stressed that establishing a permanent subsidiary body within the Convention on Biological Diversity would be an important step forward, ensuring that the voices of indigenous peoples are heard at every stage of the process. He added: “Peace with nature means peace for those who protect it. We must defend those who defend nature.”
He explained that mobilizing all countries – each with different levels of wealth and capabilities – “is difficult.” But he stressed that rapid global cooperation “can provide the defense we desperately need against wildfires, floods, extreme weather and pandemics.”
“We can and must save the ecosystems that sustain us and keep our climate goals within reach. The alternative is unthinkable,” said the UN chief. “The survival of our planet, and our survival, is at stake. Let us choose wisely. Let us choose life. Let us make peace with nature.”