The 17th Conference of Parties (COP17) on biodiversity, held in Yerevan, Armenia, has brought together global leaders to discuss pressing environmental issues. Guinea's Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Fassou Théa, took to the stage to stress the importance of translating international environmental commitments into concrete actions. He emphasized that accessible and equitable international financing is crucial for African countries to address the challenges of preserving their natural resources.
Minister Théa reaffirmed Guinea's commitment to the common position defended by African countries and highlighted the need for strengthened international cooperation to tackle the accelerating environmental crisis. He stated that Guinea fully associates itself with the African group's declaration and that the theme "Acting for Nature" underscores the fundamental requirement to transform international commitments into measurable and sustainable actions.
The Minister showcased Guinea's initiatives to preserve biodiversity, including the reinforcement of the national network of protected areas. He mentioned the creation of the Moyen-Bafing National Park, a significant sanctuary for West African chimpanzees, and the ongoing process of establishing a third marine protected area and developing a biodiversity financing action plan.
To enable African countries to address environmental challenges, Minister Théa presented priorities that Guinea hopes to see integrated into international negotiations. He advocated for accessible and equitable international financing, citing the simplicity of procedures and ambitious mobilization of FEM-9 resources for the least developed countries.
Minister Théa's second priority concerns the effective creation of the Cali Fund to ensure equitable sharing of benefits from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources. He also emphasized the importance of strengthening ecosystem conservation, in line with target 3 of the global framework, by prioritizing ecological connectivity and local community participation.
On the sidelines of the conference, Minister Théa participated in a meeting focused on preserving Guinea's forests, alongside several West African delegations. He viewed this initiative as an essential platform to enhance collective efforts for protecting natural resources and facilitating access to international financing mechanisms.
The Minister concluded by emphasizing the importance of regional cooperation, sustainable financing, and preserving ecosystems for future generations. He encouraged collaborative efforts to make biodiversity protection a driver of sustainable development for local populations.
Key points
- Guinea's Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Fassou Théa, calls for accessible and equitable international financing to address environmental challenges.
- Guinea is strengthening its network of protected areas, including the creation of the Moyen-Bafing National Park.
- Minister Théa advocates for the creation of the Cali Fund to ensure equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resource utilization.
