International Day For Biological Diversity 2020: Background

International Day for Biological Diversity 2020

Background
The United Nations proclaimed May 22 as the International Day for Biological
Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues
(www.cbd.int/idb).

As the global community is called to re-examine its relationship to the natural

world, one thing is certain: despite all our technological advances we are
completely dependent on healthy and vibrant ecosystems for our water, food,
medicines, clothes, fuel, shelter and energy, just to name a few. The theme “Our
solutions are in nature” emphasizes hope, solidarity and the importance of
working together at all levels to build a future of life in harmony with nature.
Build back better. 2020 is a year of reflection, opportunity and solutions. It is the
year where, more than ever, the world can signal a strong will for a global
framework that will “bend the curve” on biodiversity loss for the benefit of
humans and all life on Earth. 2020 will witness:
• The final period for the 2011-2020 Strategic Plan on Biodiversity and its 20
Aichi Biodiversity Targets;
• The end of the 2011-2020 United Nations Decade on Biodiversity, leading

to the transitional phase for the start of other new pivotal biodiversity-
related decades for the period 2021-2030: the UN Decade of Ocean
Science for Sustainable Development and the UN Decade on Ecosystem
Restoration;
• The UN Biodiversity Summit (A/RES/73/234), at the level of Heads of State

and Government, in order to highlight the urgency of action at the
highest levels in support of a post-2020 global biodiversity framework that
contributes to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and places
the global community on a path towards realizing the 2050 Vision for
Biodiversity.
As part of a comprehensive communication strategy, the CBD Secretariat,
working with Parties, UN entities and other partners around the world, will
commemorate the IDB on 22 May. Each day leading up to it will highlight
interconnected topics related to the biodiversity agenda. It is hoped that this
roadmap could also be adapted, emulated and used by all countries and
stakeholders around the world. All biodiversity-related conventions are invited to
contribute to IDB in accordance with their mandates and current situation.
Themes
The themes to be covered from 18 to 22 May 2020 are key elements of the
biodiversity agenda. The “story” unfolds, building up to the International Day for
Biological Diversity, 22 May:
May 2020
Mon 18th Tue 19th Wed 20th Thu 21st Fri 22nd
Science and
Awareness Action
Knowledge
Conservation Health and People and
of Biodiversity food Culture
18 May – Science and traditional knowledge are in the spotlight, not only to
understand the state of biodiversity, but also to comprehend the drivers of
biodiversity loss and pathways for a sustainable future.
19-21 May – Taking advantage of World Bee Day, and the World Day for
Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, these 3 days are devoted to
raising awareness on areas that deal with the different objectives of the
Convention on Biological Diversity: 1) different ways of conserving biodiversity; 2)
health, agriculture, food and feed, food security and biodiversity; and 3)
people, culture and biodiversity. Awareness should also be raised on the link
between biodiversity, climate and land (particularly in light of the outcome of
Climate Change COP 25).
22 May – The commemoration culminates with the International Day for

Biological Diversity around the theme of action for biodiversity and emphasizing
that “Our solutions are in nature”.
Slogan
The themes and the slogan are meant to mirror the relationship with IPBES
assessments. It is recommended that the days preceding IDB build up to the Day
and, therefore, build up to the overall slogan: “Our solutions are in nature”. This
slogan brings both Nature-Based Solutions with biodiversity safeguards and the
biodiversity/nature aspect together in a way that is easy to grasp. It also shows
that people are part of nature rather than separate from nature.
This slogan can also pair well with different calls to action for each day. Calls for
action could include:
• Ecosystem-based solutions for addressing biodiversity loss, climate change

and land degradation simultaneously;
• Mainstreaming biodiversity in economic sectors.
The theme of the upcoming UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15) will be:
“Ecological Civilization: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth”. To build
that future, we can find solutions in nature.
Worldwide commemoration
Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, IDB 2020 will be commemorated
through its first ever online-only campaign. You are in the best position to know
what awareness-raising campaigns and calls to action are feasible at your
national level.
For each of the themes/days, you are encouraged to collaborate with your
Ministry of Education, formal and informal education sector, UNESCO National
Commission, and/or your local NGOs network to do specific activities and
multiply the effects of the campaign.
We are soliciting videos and written statements on the theme “Our solutions are
in nature” from all regions of the world with the plan to roll these out across the
different time zones, thereby emphasising hope, solidarity and the importance
of working together at all levels to build a future of life in harmony with nature. If
you wish to participate in this “wave of solidarity”, please send us your message.
IDB assets
Get the logo >
The CBD Secretariat is in the process of creating a number of digital assets to

support commemoration of the IDB by the Parties. Please visit the website
www.cbd.int/idb/2020 and follow @UNBiodiversity social media platforms below
to see what is available:
facebook.com/UNBiodiversity
twitter.com/unbiodiversity
instagram.com/unbiodiversity
linkedin.com/company/unbiodiversity
Thank you for your participation!

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International Day for Biological Diversity 2020

As the global community is called to re-examine its relationship to the natural

• The end of the 2011-2020 United Nations Decade on Biodiversity, leading

• The UN Biodiversity Summit (A/RES/73/234), at the level of Heads of State

22 May – The commemoration culminates with the International Day for

• Ecosystem-based solutions for addressing biodiversity loss, climate change

Get the logo >

The CBD Secretariat is in the process of creating a number of digital assets to

Thank you for your participation!

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