Airbus renews its support for the UN biodiversity campaign

Aircraft manufacturer Airbus today extended its support for the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It builds upon an existing partnership which since 2008 has seen the company use its global reach to help educate young people worldwide about the importance of biodiversity – the rich variety of life on earth.

The announcement comes from the sidelines of the 10^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP10) in Aichi Nagoya, Japan. Senior Airbus representatives are guests of the CBD at the landmark summit, where more than 10,000 delegates from over 190 countries are gathered to set new targets for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.

In recognition of its support to date, Dr Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary of the CBD presented Airbus with an award. Previous recipients include the likes of Mr. Lee Myung-bak, the President of the Republic of Korea. Airbus is among a number of leading companies invited to attend a ministerial dialogue: ‘Business Solutions to Achieve the Aichi Nagoya Biodiversity Targets’. The session will feature plans for a UN-led initiative on ‘business and biodiversity’. Others present include Japan’s Minister of Environment and the President of The World Bank Group.

Receiving the award on behalf of Airbus, Dr. Rainer Ohler, SVP Public Affairs, Communications and Environment said: “We want to help the CBD in raising awareness amongst young people and industry about the crucial role biodiversity plays in our lives and our futures. Not only is this the right thing for any global company to do, but if the aviation industry is going to further improve its environmental performance, nature may just hold some of the answers.”

Dr. Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary of the CBD, added: “Companies also depend on biodiversity and its loss represents a very real business risk. As users and beneficiaries of biodiversity, businesses have an integral role to play in its preservation and management. We at the CBD are delighted that Airbus continues to demonstrate its support and we call upon more companies to follow its example.”

Drs. Djoghlaf and Ohler hope to encourage others to join Airbus in using its global reach to back The Green Wave. The CBD’s initiative encourages young people to celebrate life on earth and in particular on the International Day of Biodiversity, 22 May. As the celebration passes through the world’s time zones it creates a ‘Green Wave’ of awareness and activity from east to west around the planet. This year it was very special as 2010 was designated the International Year of Biodiversity by the UN. www.greenwave.cbd.int