The UNCCD Executive Secretary Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw will take part in the webinar jointly organized by the Government of Egypt and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity in the context of Egypt's Presidency of the fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 14) to CBD. The webinar on protecting biodiversity, combating land degradation and mitigating climate change to reduce the risks of future pandemics will take place on 10 September 2020 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. (GMT +2). This webinar is also organized within the context of the initiative by Egypt to promote a coherent approach for addressing biodiversity loss, climate change and land and ecosystem degradation.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a wake-up call for humanity. The degradation of ecosystems, the loss of biodiversity and its unsustainable use has increased the risk of disease spillover from wildlife to livestock and from animals to people. Climate change exacerbates this danger and increases the risks from vector-borne diseases.

Our response to the pandemic, and the way we plan and implement the recovery from its economic and social impacts, can determine whether the world continues on its unsustainable trajectory, or whether we collectively seek a new future, one of living in harmony with nature, while addressing countries’ sustainable development needs.

This webinar will highlight the links between the health of the planet and the health of people and explore how the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, combating land degradation, and fighting climate change can help to reduce the risks of future pandemics as part of an inclusive and comprehensive “One Health” approach.

Register here.