Emirati climate leader Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak is serving as the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28. She is also the President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Razan has urgently called for global collaboration to fight against climate change.
She gave a speech at COP16 of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Cali, Colombia. She stressed that nature is essential for achieving climate objectives. Nature also helps in preserving biodiversity and increasing sustainable economic growth.
Al Mubarak highlighted the significance of nature-based solutions. He asserts that climate strategies and biodiversity efforts must operate in harmony. Her appeal for action comes as the world convenes for its first major biodiversity-focused meeting since COP15.
In this convention, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was established. This framework helped to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by safeguarding 30% of terrestrial and marine areas by 2030.
She emphasized the vital role of oceans in climate resilience and biodiversity. She said, “There is no Paris Agreement without nature, and our ocean is at the heart of both.”
She pointed out that over 70% of updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) include at least one ocean-based measure. She elaborated the importance of the ocean in climate mitigation.
Al Mubarak also introduced the Red List Campaign at the IUCN pavilion. He highlighted the inherent value of every species, regardless of its economic significance. This campaign focuses on the necessity of preventing extinctions. It also aims to safeguard the endangered species.
Additionally, she called for enhanced nature-based financing for resilience in Africa. She advocated for the involvement of indigenous communities and women in climate and biodiversity efforts. She aims to empower women and engage them in the efforts against climate change.
