Biodiversity and climate require greater commitments.

As COP27 closed its doors with a more than mixed outcome, it is essential that we take our responsibility to ensure that COP15 for biodiversity, currently taking place in Montreal, does not follow the same path.

COP27 left many of us feeling deeply disappointed by the lack of any new concrete commitments to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions - even though we should be making this a vital priority. We are capable of greater collective ambition, as we have demonstrated with the creation of a loss and damage fund as well as pledges to support adaptation in developing countries. It is essential that we take our responsibility towards the most vulnerable countries, which are particularly affected by the effects of climate change.

However, it is important that our responsibility is not limited to the climate. The issue of developed countries' financing for developing countries must be extended to the field of biodiversity. A major topic that will be at the heart of the discussions during COP15.

Although there should be no hierarchy, climate issues still often take precedence over those related to biodiversity. However, the issue of life is just as serious and just as urgent as the one of climate. Even more so as it is closely linked to it.

Biodiversity continues to collapse and species are disappearing at a frightening rate. This is why we must seize the opportunity of COP15 to set an ambitious framework for action to halt this erosion. We know how to do this. By putting in place the necessary mitigation, adaptation and resilience measures.

Including local communities and indigenous peoples, who through their engagement on the ground and their knowledge of ecosystems, enable us to scale up our actions. We need to listen to the voices of the people living closest to nature before deploying solutions both on land and at sea. This is the angle that the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation wanted to develop through its initiative dedicated to forests and communities.

Among the areas to be privileged in order to better preserve the ocean, marine protected areas are one of the most effective conservation measures, responding to both climate issues and the loss of biodiversity. The Foundation, under the impetus of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, is committed to their development, from the Mediterranean to the Antarctic or the Galapagos. These marine protected areas are successful examples of an integrated and systemic approach whose benefits respond to global issues. This is why the target of 30% marine protected areas by 2030 is crucial. By helping to safeguard the ocean and extending protection to the high seas or the seabed, we are acting for biodiversity and for the climate.

The geopolitical and energy crises we are experiencing should not distract us from our priorities. Let us keep in mind that the fight against climate change and against the erosion of biodiversity is a sine qua non for the future of humanity on Earth. Together we can accelerate and amplify the development of innovations and sustainable solutions on the ground. There is no doubt that the next few years will be decisive.