To this end, China’s commitment to “ecological civilization” has set an important example. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China has made significant strides in expanding protected areas, enhancing conservation systems, and strengthening biosafety management.

Moving ahead, it will be critical to keep building on this work. In particular, there are a number of areas to focus on, which will enable us to further accelerate progress:

First, biodiversity conservation must go hand in hand with climate action as two sides of the same coin – a synergy which was emphasized at the COP16 summit last year. Ensuring healthy ecosystems provides some of our most effective nature-based solutions for mitigating emissions, and therefore should be a key priority in the next generation of national climate plans.

Second, we need to boost financing for biodiversity protection. An estimated $824 billion is needed annually to protect and restore nature, yet only $142 billion is currently directed toward these efforts. A nature-positive economy could generate over $10 trillion in annual business value and create 395 million jobs by 2030 [1], but realizing this will require a reorientation of financial systems and innovative financing mechanisms. Through our BIOFIN initiative, we are working to do just that – helping countries including China, to align financial flows with biodiversity goals.

Third, we must harness the transformative potential of emerging technologies and digital tools and direct it towards conservation efforts. Innovations like Artificial Intelligence (AI) offer ways to process vast amounts of environmental data, identify critical patterns, and break down silos that have traditionally hindered conservation. UNDP has already supported over 50 countries in using AI to align national policies with global biodiversity goals [2].

Finally, we must improve coordination of conservation efforts across sectors and regions to maximize impact. Our work with partners in Inner Mongolia’s Greater Khingan Range has demonstrated the power of integrated conservation strategies, expanding protected areas from 3.1 million to 4.2 million hectares, while promoting ecological connectivity between wetlands and forests.

At UNDP, we are proud of our decades long partnership with China to advance biodiversity protection and we stand ready to continue our joint work to safeguard and promote co-existence with nature moving forward.

Let me close by expressing my sincere appreciation to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment for organizing today’s event and for our meaningful collaboration over the years.

Together we can create a more inclusive and sustainable future for all life on Earth.

Thank you.