Health and biodiversity co-benefits for all

By Sida

Welcome to a webinar about how the continuing loss of biodiversity affects human health and well-being for all. The pandemic is a drastic reminder of the need for viable ecosystems and to build resilience for improved planetary health.

Date: Monday, 8th November, 2021

Time: 11:00–12:50 CET

Organized by: The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida

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!

The digital event will take place on livestream.

Programme
Monday, 8th November. 11:00-12:50 CET

Moderator: Anders Nordström, Ambassador Global Health, the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Opening remarks
Carin Jämtin, Director General, Sida Per Olsson Fridh, Minister for International Development Cooperation, the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Opportunities and entry points to achieve health-biodiversity benefits
Elizabeth 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

Voices from Indigenous Peoples
Cristina Coc, Director and co-founder of the Julian Cho Society and leader of the Maya community in southern Belize

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
Nonette Royo, Executive Director, The Tenure Facility
Victor Galaz, Deputy Director, Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University

Closing remarks
Maria Schultz, Senior Policy Specialist and Coordinator, Biodiversity & Ecosystems, Sida
Sarah Thomsen, Lead Policy Specialist, Health and SRHR, Sida