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On the occasion of World Environment Day on 5 June
2007, a series of events took place at the Museum of Natural History
in Berlin, Germany, addressing the theme "Biodiversity, Climate
Change and Community Action: A Message for Our Future." The events
focused on the twin challenges of climate change and biodiversity conservation
for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Convention
on Biological Diversity's (CBD) target to achieve a significant reduction
of the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010.
The event was hosted by UNDP, the Equator Initiative, the CBD Secretariat, IUCN
and Countdown 2010. It was financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic
Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and organized by the BIODIV programme of the
Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), UNDP, the Equator
Initiative and GeoMedia. Participants from governments, business, communities
and civil society attended the following events: a press conference presenting
a statement for World Environment Day and conveying a message to the G8 Summit
(held from 6-8 June 2007 in Heiligendamm, Germany); a policy dialogue focusing
on strategic opportunities and priority actions for G8 members and global leaders
to build upon synergies between the climate change and biodiversity agendas;
and the 2006 Equator Prize award ceremony and dinner.
The message for World Environment Day calls on the G8 to take leadership for
renewed commitments to climate change and biodiversity conservation. Recommendations
for action from the Equator Initiative and Countdown 2010 include: global leadership
in financing for adaptation to and mitigation of climate change; adopting a clear
mandate for a successor agreement to the Kyoto Protocol; and integrating biodiversity
and climate change concerns into all relevant sectors. The policy dialogue addressed
key policies, such as compensation for avoided deforestation and a review of
the economic impacts of biodiversity loss; and implementation measures, such
as ensuring coherent development and environmental programmes and developing
innovative funding mechanisms.
Participants then attended the opening of a new photo exhibition to be housed
at the Museum entitled: "Nature - Our Precious Net", prepared by GTZ,
GEO Magazine, Countdown 2010, IUCN and UNDP.
In the evening, participants attended the Equator Prize Award Ceremony to celebrate
the achievements of five communities in diminishing poverty through the conservation
and sustainable use of biodiversity in Madagascar, Bangladesh, Guatemala, Kenya
and Ecuador.
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