This year’s edition of the United Nations Biodiversity Conference marks a crucial step forward in the global effort to safeguard the planet’s biodiversity. 

Taking place in Colombia from 21 October to 1 November, the conference provides a platform for governments, NGOs, businesses, and other stakeholders to discuss and shape the future of biodiversity on our planet.

The main objective of the 2024 conference is to develop national strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, thereby securing a thriving future for our ecosystems and the countless species that depend on them.

The conference has three primary goals:

1. The conservation of biodiversity
2. The sustainable use of its components
3. The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from genetic resources

The biodiversity crisis is now one of the greatest challenges we face. With natural habitats rapidly shrinking, species becoming increasingly endangered, and the planet’s ecosystems deteriorating at an unprecedented speed, this year’s conference will be a decisive moment for the world’s countries to establish clear, actionable frameworks for safeguarding biodiversity.

The role of ProVeg at the conference

This year, ProVeg will be attending  the Biodiversity Conference for the first time. Earlier this year, we were granted official-observer status for the conference, a step that signals the growing recognition of the connection between biodiversity and our food systems .

ProVeg’s presence at the event is about more than just getting a seat at the table. We will be drawing attention to the critical need for food-systems transformation as a way to mitigate and reverse biodiversity loss around the world.

Animal agriculture is one of the key drivers of biodiversity loss, with forests cleared to make way for livestock and feed crops, and wild animals being displaced from their habitats, putting immense pressure on ecosystems. The shift towards plant-based diets and cultivated foods offers a viable solution, one that could reduce land use, prevent habitat destruction, and alleviate the impact of food production on the planet’s wildlife.

ProVeg will be using  its platform at the conference to advocate for this urgently needed transformation of our food systems, stressing that any comprehensive biodiversity strategy will need to ensure sustainable and ethical food production. By promoting the consumption and production of plant-based and cultivated foods, we hope to encourage governments around the world to adopt policies that will preserve biodiversity and enhance human health and food security.

What the Biodiversity Conference means for you and me

While it might seem that the conference is an event exclusively aimed at policymakers, scientists, and environmental experts, its outcomes will directly affect everyone – including ordinary people, communities, and the business sector.

Biodiversity is not an abstract concept – it is at the core of the ecosystems that sustain human life. From the air we breathe to the food we eat, the diversity of the planet’s species and ecosystems supports essential life-sustaining processes. Healthy ecosystems provide clean water, fertile soil, pollination for crops, and resilience against natural disasters. In this sense, biodiversity loss is not just a concern for scientists and policymakers – it is a direct and immediate threat to all of human society.

Which is why it’s so important that our food systems are a central part of the conversation at this year’s conference. Our food choices have far-reaching implications for the environment. Animal agriculture, for example, results in mass deforestation and habitat destruction, and is also one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. Shifting to more plant-based diets can drastically reduce our environmental footprint, helping to conserve water, lower carbon emissions, and reduce pressure on wildlife.

By placing food-system transformation at the heart of discussions around biodiversity loss, this year’s edition of the Biodiversity Conference has the potential to create real, tangible change that benefits the planet and all who live on it. This is at the heart of ProVeg’s mission: providing solutions that simultaneously address biodiversity loss, food security, human health, and climate change.

ProVeg Youth Board: bringing young voices to the forefront

In addition to the presence of ProVeg’s core team, members of the ProVeg Youth Board will also be attending the conference, bringing the perspectives and voices of younger generations to the discussion. Youth participation in environmental movements has been gaining momentum around the world over the last few years, and the ProVeg Youth Board is at the forefront of this movement. By empowering young people to take part in global discussions about biodiversity and our food systems, ProVeg is helping to amplify their voices on the world stage.

A call to action: transforming food systems for biodiversity

As the conference unfolds this week, we hope that it will become evident to all that the protection of the planet’s rich biodiversity and the transformation of the world’s food systems are intrinsically linked. The choices we make about what we eat affect not only our health but also the health of our planet. And ProVeg is pushing for this connection to be recognized at the highest levels of policy-making.

For ordinary people, this means that what we put on our plates is more important than ever. Small changes in our diets – choosing plant-based alternatives, reducing our meat consumption, and supporting sustainable food production – can have a ripple effect on conserving biodiversity and reversing biodiversity loss.

While the outcomes of the conference will shape the future of biodiversity conservation, they will also signal the direction we collectively take in transforming our food systems for a more sustainable and equitable world. With the contributions of all participants – governments, organizations, and individuals alike – the event has the potential to be a global turning point for both biodiversity and food systems.