Wildlife Conservation Society Calls for Emphasis on Nature as Part of Climate Solution as COP28 Begins in Dubai

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
The following statement was issued by Monica Medina,
president and CEO of the Wildlife Conservation Society.
The world's most vulnerable people and nature's most fragile
places are disproportionately bearing the costs of the climate
crisis, a crisis driven by the world's wealthiest and the
fossil fuel industry. COP 28 will be judged on whether

(00:20):
it leads to decarbonizing our economies more rapidly and
eliminating fossil fuel subsidies, putting nature and
conservation high on the agenda as a climate crisis solution,
ensuring it just transition off fossil fuels.
And that all goals and agreements of COP 28 are
informed by Indigenous peoples and local communities.
And prioritizing equity by ensuring nations that have

(00:43):
contributed least to the climatecrisis received the most in
compensation. At WCS we are promoting and
implementing nature positive solutions to the climate crisis,
protecting high integrity ecosystems, reducing emissions
from deforestation and forest degradation and restoring
degraded areas in our priority landscapes.

(01:04):
We advance our work through a rights based approach, through
collaborations with indigenous peoples and local communities as
well as governments and partnersin over 50 plus countries.
It's our hope that at COP 28 we will see stronger commitments
and deeper partnerships to make common sense.
Investments in nature, nature. Positive actions can provide up

(01:25):
to 30% of what's needed by 20-30to keep global temperature rise
below 2°C. We don't need to reinvent the
wheel, We need to reinvest in nature.
This includes ensuring that lossand damage must be compensated
and actively prevented going forward.
The Loss and Damage Fund must beeasily accessible to the
communities who need it most, and the Green Climate Fund must

(01:48):
be replenished. We know the climate crisis is
primarily a fossil fuel crisis. COP 28 in Dubai will be judged
on the extent to which governments accept and commit to
the science consensus that the world needs to accelerate a just
transition away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy.
An essential first step in that direction must be ending direct

(02:10):
and indirect subsidies to fossilfuel industries.
At WCS, we're doing the work on nature positive solutions that
we're well positioned to do and our programs are providing
leadership on a number of frontsin both policy and
implementation arenas. Over the past century, the
Wildlife Conservation Society has established long term

(02:31):
presence in the last wild placesacross the Americas, Africa,
Asia, and Oceania, built strong and trusting partnerships, and
acquired a depth of knowledge that ensures effective
conservation action. The climate crisis threatens
that legacy and every corner of our planet.
We call on leaders in governmentand the private sector to step

(02:52):
up and provide the leadership the world needs from them to
make COP 28 a turning point for our planet and its people.
Wildlife Conservation Society WCSWCS combines the power of its
zoos and an aquarium in New YorkCity and a global conservation
program in more than fifty countries to achieve its mission
to save wildlife and wild places.

(03:15):
WCS runs the world's largest conservation field program,
protecting more than 50% of Earth's known biodiversity in
partnership with governments, indigenous people, local
communities and the private sector.
It's for Zoos and Aquarium. The Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo,
Queen Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, and the New York Aquarium

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welcomes more than 3.5 million visitors each year, inspiring
generations to care for nature. Founded in 1895 as the New York
Zoological Society, the organization is LED as of June
1st, 2023 by President and CEO Monica P Medina.
For more information, +1347, 840-1242.

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Listen to the WCS Wild Audio podcast here.