The foundations of life are unraveling. Biodiversity is on the brink. But we have agreed how to turn the tide: the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is a plan to rescue humanity from a crisis of our own making.

Last year in Cali, you took important strides towards making that Framework a reality – I congratulate you for those achievements. But there is still much work to be done to ensure it can be implemented in full. With the world approaching dangerous tipping points, it is imperative that you reach agreement here in Rome on how biodiversity finance commitments will be honoured, and how progress towards implementing the Framework will be monitored. Success requires accountability. And action demands finance.

I urge all Parties to recognize that no one wins if talks fail. No country is immune to this crisis, nor can they address it on their own. We share nature and we depend on nature. Multilateralism is our only hope. So, I call on all parties to do all they can to find common ground, and seek solutions.

Nature cannot wait.