May 28, 2008, 14:15 GMT
Bonn, Germany - German Chancellor Angela Merkel Wednesday urged a key UN conference on preserving biodiversity to take 'trailblazing decisions' to halt global species loss.
'I am convinced that we need a complete change of course in the preservation of species,' Merkel told representatives of around 190 countries that have ratified the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
'Nature is an incredible teacher,' said the chancellor, who herself has a background as a scientist.
Merkel pledged that Germany would put up 500 million euros (785 million dollars) by 2012, the target set to significantly curb species loss.
Germany would contribute 500 million euros a year thereafter, she said.
Speaking at the start of the final, political, phase of the conference being held in Bonn, Merkel said the conference was an opportunity for the world community to 'state that we are ready to accept responsibility, to make any effort.'
She acknowledged, however, that the world faced a 'gigantic task.'
Merkel also called for a balance in the effort required from rich industrialized countries, and poorer developing nations. The effort to save species presented an opportunity for economic reform and fighting poverty.
Developing countries needed to receive the proceeds from the exploitation of their natural resources. 'Biodiversity is not just a moral issue, but an economic one,' she said.
As she has done repeatedly with regard to initiatives to combat global warming, Merkel stressed the central role of the United Nations, striking a course different from that taken by the United States under President George W Bush.
Just as with the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gas emissions, the US has signed but failed to ratify the CBD.
'Only the UN can provide the reliable framework for this,' Merkel said, calling for a 'strong joint message to be sent from Bonn to the rest of the world on how important we deem biodiversity to be for the future of humankind.'
Biodiversity was 'the very basis of our existence,' the chancellor said, highlighting what she called the 'enormous opportunities in medicine.'
On financing the effort required, Merkel said the trading of carbon certificates could provide part of the answer, but more funding was needed.
And she highlighted the dual role the world's forests played in both absorbing carbon and in providing a habitat for species.
Addressing the conference that has drawn delegations from some 190 countries, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso called for the sustainable growing of crops for biofuels, a contentious issue at the conference.
Biofuels should not be part of the problem but had to be part of the solution,' he said.
Achim Steiner, executive director of the UN Environment Programme, said the holding of the CBD conference indicated that environmental policy could only proceed at a global level.
New funding mechanisms needed to be found to protect biodiversity, Steiner told German national public broadcaster Deutschlandfunk.
While many countries had put up funds, the means available were still insufficient, he said.
The ninth meeting of the parties to the CBD began May 19 and runs to Friday.
View blog reactions
If you liked this story please support M&C and Buzz the site on Yahoo.
There are currently no comments for this article. Be the first to comment! (no registration required)
Advertising
There are currently no comments for this article. Be the first to comment! (no registration required)