Today Janez Potocnik and Izabella Teixeira are colleagues as Co-Chairs of the International Resource Panel (IRP). A decade ago, they became friends as negotiators at the 10th Conference of Parties of the Convention of Biological Diversity in Nagoya, Japan. They have distilled that decade of experience into clear, science-based principles in their new opinion piece “Building Biodiversity – the Natural Resource Management Approach”.

To the world’s efforts to restore and regenerate nature, they add the single-biggest missing piece: natural resource management. The picture that emerges is one of opportunity: for biodiversity-rich nations to achieve a truer value for their natural wealth and their role in maintaining ecosystem services, and for countries with higher resource footprints to make resource strategy part of a more efficient, environmentally secure future. As policy makers prepare for CBD COP 15, these science-based principles can help them move beyond pledges and commitments, and take action that we can soon see working in the natural world.

Youth and Environment Europe (YEE) is the largest independent European network of environmental youth organizations. YEE unites 52 member organisations coming from 30 countries. All activities and projects of YEE are organised and carried out by young people under 30. YEE organises, facilitates and supports projects and campaigns aiming to increase the knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of the environment and the awareness of climate issues among young people in Europe.

This event builds on YEE and the IRP’s recent work to bring its research to a new audience: European youth. This online “Youth Dialogue with the IRP’s Co-Chairs” launched a new chapter of YEE and IRP collaboration.

Recording

Speakers

  • Merlyn Van Voore, Head of Secretariat, International Resource Panel (IRP), UN Environment Programme

  • Izabella Teixeira, International Resource Panel, Co-Chair, former Minister of Environment, Brazil

  • Janez Potočnik, Co-chair of the International Resource Panel and Partner at SYSTEMIQ

  • Jessica Micklem, Coordinator of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN) in Europe and Central Asia

  • Kristela Toskaj, Liaison Officer on Biodiversity, YEE

  • Vania Olmos Lau, Regional Facilitator for the Latinamerica and Caribbean region, UNEP MGCY

Moderated by Karolina Fabianova, Project and Communication, YEE and Cathal Swan, Liaison Officer on Environmental Governance, YEE

Resources