But public funds alone won’t be sufficient to leverage investments into the SDGs at the scale needed. Increased private capital is critical — not only to bridge the massive financing gaps, but to unlock innovation, and deliver lasting, scalable solutions for people and planet.

And it makes business sense. A nature-positive economy could generate over $10 trillion in annual business value and create 395 million jobs by 2030.

Secondly, we must break down the silos between climate action and biodiversity protection, and further integrate ecological protection efforts.

Climate and nature are deeply interconnected. Climate change accelerates biodiversity loss, while degraded ecosystems – which are vital carbon sinks – undermine our ability to mitigate and adapt to climate impacts. Addressing these challenges together — through integrated planning, policies, and financing — is not only more efficient, but essential to long-term sustainability.

In Guizhou, we see progress on this front. In partnership with the both the national and local government, UNDP supported an ecological compensation project in the Chishui River Basin, which established a successful model for cross-regional and cross-sector collaboration. In Libo County, our Natural Forest Restoration Project has restored over 1,800 hectares, promoting inclusive, participatory approaches and green livelihoods — offering a scalable model for tackling biodiversity loss and climate change together.

And lastly, we must harness the power of innovation and new technologies to drive green transitions and safeguard nature. From digital monitoring of ecosystems to AI-powered climate modelling, cutting-edge tools are opening up unprecedented opportunities to process environmental data, identify patterns, and protect our natural assets more effectively.

With Guizhou being China’s first national big data comprehensive pilot zone, there is great potential to leverage AI and big data systems to inform local conservation planning, strengthen ecosystem monitoring, and support sustainable livelihoods.

Moving forward, as China prepares its next Five-Year Plan, there is a critical opportunity to further integrate climate, biodiversity, and development goals. The government’s continued pursuit of “ecological civilization”, that has already led to 18% of its landmass being protected, will be important to further expand upon.  

Finding a sustainable path forward for human development that does not come at the cost of the natural world, requires collective action across all these areas.  

This forum provides a space to advance that agenda — to forge new alliances, share cutting-edge solutions, and elevate bold ideas.  

And UNDP stands ready to support that process. We are committed to being a bridge — connecting global expertise with local action, aligning finance, policy, and technology to create a more sustainable world.

In closing, I want to express my appreciation to the Government of Guizhou, the organizers of this Forum, and all the partners who have made this gathering possible.

Thank you.