The Special Virtual Session was held in an effort
to maintain momentum towards the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the
Parties (COP-15), and to facilitate preparations for the twenty-fourth meeting
of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice
(SBSTTA 24), and the third meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation
(SBI 3), which have been postponed due to the on-going global pandemic. It was also designed to allow Parties and observers
to gain additional familiarity with the updated version of the online platform
and with the procedures for conducting meetings virtually.
The Special Session also provided an opportunity
for Parties and observers to examine the links between biodiversity and health,
including the links between biodiversity loss and the emergence of zoonotic
diseases, the One Health approach, and the response to COVID-19.
One Health is a collaborative, multisectoral, and
transdisciplinary approach that recognises that the health of people is closely
connected to the health of animals and our shared environment. Its goal is to achieve
optimal health outcomes, whilst recognising the interconnection between people,
animals, plants, and their shared environment.
Dr. Lena Dempewolf, Ms. Candace Amoroso, Mr. Julius
Smith and Mr. Kevin Bhajan of the Environmental Policy and Planning Division of
the Ministry of Planning and Development were the Government’s representatives at
the Sessions.
Whilst the
sessions contained no negotiations, decisions or formal recommendations, as
they were aimed at providing an opportunity for presentations and information
sharing on the theme, it was emphasised that the loss of biodiversity,
habitat fragmentation and the loss of natural environments threaten the full
range of life-supporting services provided by ecosystems at all levels of
biodiversity, including species, genetic and ecosystem diversity. It was noted
that the disruption of ecosystem services has direct and indirect implications
for public health, which are likely to worsen existing health situations,
whether through exposure to environmental hazards, or through the loss of
livelihoods.
The Session stressed that the principles of
One Health can improve the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and
prevent the spread of newly emerging infectious diseases by embracing the
interconnectedness of people (and human development), wildlife and ecosystems
to improve global health outcomes. As it provides a valuable framework for the
development of beneficial policies and interventions at the link between health
and biodiversity.
No comments:
Post a Comment