Sida, DevTalks webinar: Health and biodiversity co-benefits for all

The pandemic is raging across the world. Poverty is rising. The global food crisis is increasing. Climate crisis and the loss of biodiversity are further pushing it.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a drastic reminder of how human health and the environment are interdependent. When biodiversity and ecosystems are degraded, invaluable health benefits are lost worldwide. It is vital that we increase our understanding of the value of biodiversity and well-functioning ecosystems for human health. This is essential for preventing new diseases and pandemics, and to build resilience.

Viable ecosystems provide diversified and nutritious food, traditional medicine and clean water and air. These are all of key importance for health, resilience and adaptation to climate change.

With the most vulnerable people at the core, this Development Talk will discuss the urgent actions needed and the role of development actors. It will put the spotlight on human health and well-being, and how it is coupled with the state of the biosphere – the life supporting system we all depend on.

We are in the midst of the ongoing UN Climate Change Conference COP26 and the negotiations under the Convention on Biological Diversity. The UN Food Systems Summit was recently held and the World Health Assembly is coming up soon. This Development Talk is a strong call for building resilience for improved planetary health and for sustainable development.

Welcome to join!

Register here

The digital event will be broadcast on this livestream.

 

Programme Monday, 8th November. 11:00-12:50 CETModerator: Anders Nordström, Ambassador Global Health, the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs Opening remarks Carin Jämtin, Director General, Sida Janine Alm Ericsson, State Secretary, the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs Opportunities and entry points to achieve health-biodiversity benefits Elisabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Secretary, United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity Maria Neira, Director Environment, Climate Change and Health, World Health Organization How nature can protect us from pandemics Bernard Bett, Team Leader One Health Research, Education and Outreach Centre in Africa hosted at the International Livestock Research Institute Diversity in Biodiversity Luca Berardi, Activist, WWF Sweden Youth Panel discussion: How can the development community act for the transformation needed to improve the human health and biodiversity nexus? Anna Tibblin, Secretary General, We Effect/Vi Agroforestry Davies Chitundu, Regional Advisor Human Rights, Swedish Embassy Lusaka, Sida Victor Galaz, Deputy Director, Stockholm Resilience Centre Closing remarks Maria Schultz, Senior Policy Specialist and Coordinator, Biodiversity & Ecosystems, Sida Sarah Thomsen, Lead Policy Specialist, Health and SRHR, Sida The webinar will include interactive elements and a short break. It’s free of charge and registration is open until we go live.