Ambassador of France to South Africa, Aurélien Lechevallier

Ambassador of France to South Africa Aurélien Lechevallier said biodiversity loss is a threat to human life, and climate change exacerbates the biodiversity crisis.

Both these threats are global and require international cooperation.

The ongoing international agenda on biodiversity is very intense, he said, referring to the United Nations Biodiversity Conference taking place in April and May 2022 in Kunming, China, and to the recent United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26, in Glasgow.

Since the Paris Agreement that was adopted in 2015, there has been increasing concern about global warming. However, “the biodiversity crisis does not trigger the same sense of crisis as global warming”, he said.

France supports efforts to reverse biodiversity loss, and for at least 30% of the planet’s land and ocean to be protected by 2030.

South Africa is already facing water scarcity, changing rainfall patterns, reduced food security and other challenges as a result of biodiversity loss.

A “green recovery” will present major opportunities, including securing food and water resources.

Lechevallier said that France has partnerships aimed at protecting biodiversity with South African National Parks, the South African National Biodiversity Institute, and various enterprises.

South Africa has a major role to play in biodiversity protection, and has the know-how, the skills and the innovation to succeed.