BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 20. The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) underscores the critical need for integrated climate and biodiversity strategies, said Clarissa Arida, Acting Executive Director of the ACB, as she addressed the COP29 summit in Baku, TurkicWorld reports.
"This impacts the region's carbon-rich ecosystems and habitats, home to over 25% of the planet's known plant and animal species, and most importantly, the 670 million people that depend on this natural wealth," Arida stated. She highlighted that biodiversity-focused actions often translate directly into climate action, as recognized by leading global bodies such as IPBES and IPCC.
Arida reaffirmed ASEAN's commitment by reiterating the region's joint statements at CBD COP16 and COP29, which call for integrating biodiversity into climate action plans across sectors like agriculture, health, finance, and infrastructure. "Healthy ecosystems are solutions—our natural solutions—enhancing resilience against extreme weather events and other serious climate-related challenges," she emphasized.
The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, in collaboration with member states and partners, champions initiatives like the ASEAN Heritage Parks and the ASEAN Green Initiative, which demonstrate nature-based solutions in one of the world’s most vulnerable regions.
"To achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, mobilizing financial resources is imperative," Arida urged, calling for unified efforts to optimize resources effectively for addressing the interconnected crises.
As a technical support center in Asia, the ACB pledged to play a key role in fostering coordinated and cohesive actions. "By mainstreaming biodiversity into climate action, we can tackle the interconnected issues our planet faces," she concluded, reaffirming ASEAN's dedication to sustainable development and global cooperation.
