Astrid Schomaker

Indigenous Peoples are the stewards and defenders of the world's biodiversity.

Today, on #IndigenousPeoplesDay, we recognise & celebrate that leadership.

At resumed #INC5 talks, delighted to meet representatives to hear Indigenous Peoples perspectives on a #PlasticsTreaty to #BeatPlasticPollution.

🌏 Today 9 August is International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples

"Efforts to halt & reverse biodiversity loss can benefit from technological progress. But we must always place #IndigenousPeoples’ rights & leadership at the heart of every discussion & action."— @astridschomaker.bsky.social

Group photo of women leaders of the Convention on Migratory Species Secretariat, CIFOR-ICRAF, IUCN, the CBD Secretariat, the Convention on Wetlands Secretariat, UNESCO, CITES, and the UN Environment Programme

At #WetlandsCOP15 in Zimbabwe, I joined a group of women leaders united in their commitment to #PeaceWithNature and determined to walk the talk on synergy, promoting the synergistic national implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements and associated frameworks and goals.

Cover page of the report issued by the Secretariat of the Convention on Wetlands

We at @unbiodiversity.bsky.social welcome the launch of the Global Wetland Outlook 2025 calling for transformative change and greater cooperation. This constitutes a timely evidence-based call to action with linkages with the race to implement the #KMGBF: www.global-wetland-outlook.ramsar.org

This image illustrates Earth Overshoot Day using a visual metaphor: planet Earth hanging a “SORRY WE’RE CLOSED” sign in space. The message below reads, “We have exceeded our natural resource budget for 2025,” emphasizing the urgent need to live within ecological limits.

24 July is #EarthOvershootDay. That means humanity has used up Earth’s yearly natural resources budget in just 7 months. In 2024, the date was 1 August.

The date keeps creeping earlier—but the trend can be reversed: www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/resources/up...

Wetlands are the wellspring of biodiversity. Yet they are declining at an alarming rate.

#WetlandsCOP15 in Victoria Falls, an amazing wetland sanctuary, inspires us to work harder through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to achieve common goals.

📷 @ramsar.org

Thank you Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute (EBI) for your leadership in biodiversity research and conservation in Ethiopia and for an unforgettable visit.

We at @unbiodiversity.bsky.social appreciate your efforts in finalizing Ethiopia's #NBSAP, the vehicle of accelerated #KMGBF implementation.

Great meeting of minds with the Deputy Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Antonio Pedro on supporting African countries in integrating biodiversity into economic development, innovative finance instruments & circular economy as part of efforts to implement the #KMGBF.

In Addis Ababa I discussed with Matthias Naab, Director, Regional Service Center for Africa, @undp.org's efforts in supporting biodiversity and climate initiatives in Africa and opportunities for collaboration as part of global efforts to accelerate the implementation of the #KMGBF.

The International Court of Justice’s opinion on the obligations of States in respect of climate change is a watershed moment in the evolution of climate law.

@unep.org will support countries deliver ambitious, science-aligned climate action #ForPeopleForPlanet: www.linkedin.com/posts/anders...

In Addis Ababa I opened the African Regional Knowledge Management for Biodiversity workshop.

More than 70 participants from 40 countries took part, sharing experiences, identifying needs & co-creating solutions to shore up the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework #KMGBF.

Honoured to confer with H.E. Girma Amente, Minister of Agriculture of Ethiopia, today in Addis Ababa.

We discussed biodiversity initiatives by the Ethiopian government, including the Green Legacy Initiative and the “Conservation Plus” programme--which underpin the implementation of the #KMGBF

With Harsen Nyambe, Director of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy, and his team at the African Union Commission, we discussed collaboration for the implementation of the #KMGBF.

The planned African Summits on Climate Change and Biodiversity will bolster synergies across the continent.

H.E. Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia, has announced the dates of COP17: 18-30 Oct 2026. Grateful for his leadership steadily moving forward towards COP17.

We at @unbiodiversity.bsky.social look forward to a decisive COP that will see the 1st 🌍review of progress in #KMGBF implementation.

#AMCENat40 is a celebration of Africa’s achievements in elevating environmental sustainability as a top policy priority.

We at @unbiodiversity.bsky.social applaud #AMCEN's leadership in🌍efforts to tackle biodiversity loss and climate change, protect land and curb pollution.

Thank you.

At #AMCEN20 I took part in a @unbiodiversity.bsky.social
ceremony for the signing of host agreements with the Heads of RCMRD and OSS: two of the Regional Support Centres* that Parties to the CBD have selected to bolster capacity for biodiversity action.

(*) www.cbd.int/article/sbi4...

Congratulations to H.E. Hambardzum Matevosyan on his appointment as Minister of Environment of Armenia.

We have been working closely on preparations for COP 17 of the CBD (@unbiodiversity.bsky.social) in Yerevan. I look forward to continued collaboration with Minister Matevosyan and his team.

At #AMCEN20 I conferred with H.E. Roger Baro, Minister of Environment, Water and Sanitation of Burkina Faso. We discussed opportunities to accelerate the implementation of the country’s revised National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan #NBSAP and preparations for COP 17 of the CBD.

Chuffed by the level of commitment to biodiversity at #AMCEN20.

With Mr. Ousseynou Kassé, Chair of the African Group of Negotiators on Biodiversity, we agreed on the importance of regional coordination and capacity-building as enablers of accelerated implementation of the #KMGBF.

#AMCEN20

Rio convention representatives were united in highlighting the benefits of integrated implementation at all levels.

2026 as a triple COP year offers opportunities for parties to the Convention to task the Secretariats to work together in this sense.

An estimated one million species on our planet face extinction.

We must make #PeaceWithNature

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework - #KGMBF - is our global blueprint to halt & reverse nature loss: www.unep.org/resources/ku...

@astridschomaker.bsky.social @unbiodiversity.bsky.social

Today, at #AMCEN20, panelists agreed that this year’s South African #G20 Presidency offers a historic opportunity for the environment priorities to take center stage.

📷 @enb.iisd.org

Ms. Jihyun Lee

Delighted to announce the appointment of Ms. Jihyun Lee as Deputy Executive Secretary @unbiodiversity.bsky.social. In this new role with the Secretariat, Ms. Lee will bring her vast experience to supporting the implementation of the Convention, Protocols & #KMGBF. Congratulations!

📷@enb.iisd.org

Finance must align with the Global Biodiversity Framework #KMGBF and #GlobalGoals.

At #cityweek2025 I joined H.E. @marycreagh.bsky.social and
@tonyjuniper.bsky.social in a reflection on how investing in #PeaceWithNature constitutes an investment in economic resilience and our common future.

The information session that we are organizing with @fao.org
Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture will address the synergistic implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework #KMGBF and #GlobalGoals pertaining to food security and nutrition:

🔗 www.fao.org/cgrfa/meetin...

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Panel on Chemicals, Waste and Pollution joins @ipcc.bsky.social and @ipbes.net
in providing policy-relevant scientific advice.

Looking forward to the Panel's inputs in support of the implementation of Target 7 of the Global Biodiversity Framework #KMGBF.

From 20-30 October 2025, Panama will host2️⃣meetings of @unbiodiversity.bsky.social subsidiary bodies:

🟢SBSTTA-27
🟢1️⃣st meeting of SB8(j)

I just signed the Host Government Agreement.

I am grateful to HE Mr. Juan Carlos Navarro, Minister of the Environment of Panama, for supporting CBD
processes.

Today the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) turns 30 #30YearsAEWA.

@astridschomaker.bsky.social said: " we stand ready to support AEWA and its partners in advancing our global endeavour for #peacewithnature, guided by the 23 targets of the #KMGBF".

🟢Statement: bit.ly/4n5fJMZ

Thank you, Ambassador Peter Thomson, for launching #UNOC conferences. The ocean🌊deserves no less.

In Nice, we reflected on how #UNOC3 advanced efforts to connect science and policy, sparking bold ideas to #SaveOurOcean and a renewed commitment to halting and reversing biodiversity loss.

Leticia Carvalho, Secretary-General of International Seabed Authority, and I met at #UNOC3 to discuss cooperation in protecting the seabed: the bedrock of ocean health. I welcome the Deep-sea Biobank Initiative that will underpin the achievement of our common goals.

🔗 www.isa.org.jm/news/isa-and...