1. Jean-Claude Jacques Director, EU Liaison Office IUCN Regional Office for Europe The World Conservation Union Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss: New Opportunities for EU Development Cooperation Why?

2. The World Conservation Union Climate change: a critical issue for least developed countries Recent hurricanes in Guatemala, Mexico and the Caribbean Desertification in sub-Sahara Africa Floods in Bangladesh Climate change could lead to vast displacement of populations, including in regions close to Europe Is it possible to finance development without taking such an issue into account?

3. The World Conservation Union Biodiversity and ecosystem loss: a critical issue for all developing countries Is it possible to finance development without taking such an issue into account? 60% of ecosystems are degraded or no longer sustainably used 35% of mangroves and 20% of coral reefs have been lost Species’ extinction rates are estimated to be between 100 and 1,000 times higher than the natural extinction rate But… Ecosystems provide water, wood, fish, bushmeat, medicines and plants, which local and indigenous communities mainly rely on for their day-to-day life

4. The World Conservation Union Deforestation accounts for 20% of global CO2 emissions, making Indonesia the third highest emitter globally, after the USA and China. Is it possible to finance development without taking such an issue into account? But biodiversity loss is also worsening climate change

5. The World Conservation Union Climate change and biodiversity loss are still not on the Development Cooperation agenda… WHY? Council Conclusions (December 2006) welcoming the Message from Paris (Biodiversity in European Development Cooperation): “Mainstreaming of ecosystem services and biodiversity in development cooperation programming.... must be founded on national and regional ownership...”

6. The World Conservation Union Ecosystem services and climate change are still not priority issues in countries which face so many other development priorities. HOW HOW can these issues be given higher priority on the development agendas of partner countries?

7. The World Conservation Union Recognize that climate change and ecosystem services are a central pillar to sustainable development and need addressing systematically in bilateral development cooperation agreements Make all environmental documentation in the EC programming process publicly available, to stimulate local ownership and governance Use political dialogue to raise the profile of environmental issues during the programming process 1.Drastically revise the current strategy for the integration of the environment into EU development cooperation

8. The World Conservation Union EU Action Plan on Climate Change and Development (2004) European Consensus on Development (2006) Halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010 and beyond (2006) AND… 2. Fully implement existing commitments

9. The World Conservation Union Follow up the Message from Paris and Council Conclusions (2006): Include biodiversity and ecosystem services in policy dialogue processes with partner countries and regions Help partner countries and regions mainstream biodiversity into development strategies and plans Strengthen civil society and develop capacity building programmes

10. The World Conservation Union Poverty Reduction and Environmental Governance Initiative (PREGI) A response to the Message from Paris presented by IUCN and partner organisations Addressing the challenge of helping 7 partner countries (Algeria, Armenia, Bolivia, DR Congo, Mali, Nepal and Lao + 1 OCT (Mayotte)) + 3 regional integration organisations (African Union, ASEAN, Andean Community) to mainstream biodiversity and climate change into their development agendas Enhancing dialogue at country level between governments and civil society

11. The World Conservation Union Supporting the EC and EU Member States in better mainstreaming biodiversity and climate change into development cooperation programming Identifying financial mechanisms which ensure the sustainable management of natural resources Disseminating lessons learnt Poverty Reduction and Environmental Governance Initiative (PREGI)

12. The World Conservation Union Total duration of 5 years Starting late 2007 Seeking financial support from EC and EU Member States Support and involvement of the EP will be highly needed! Poverty Reduction and Environmental Governance Initiative (PREGI) See: http://countdown2010.net/paris2006/

13. The World Conservation Union Thank you for your attention! www.iucneurope.org http://countdown2010.net/paris2006jean-claude.jacques@iucn.org