Explanation of Position on a Resolution on the Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity

Jesse Walter
Advisor for Economic and Social Affairs
U.S. Mission to the United Nations
New York, New York
November 24, 2020

AS DELIVERED

As we noted last year, the United States is concerned that language in this resolution does not accurately reflect decisions made by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Parties at the 14th Conference of the Parties in November 2018. Such approaches do a disservice to implementation of the Convention. Where language in this resolution is inconsistent with relevant text decided by the CBD Conference of the Parties, we will only accept the CBD text.

Finally, regarding references to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the Paris Agreement, climate change, reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the characterization of technology transfer, and the phrase “build back better,” we addressed our concerns in our General Statement delivered on November 18.

Thank you.

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