30 October 2014: High-level representatives and experts from more than 40 countries, territories and independent states attending the ‘International Conference on Biodiversity and Climate Change’ adopted the ‘Message from Guadeloupe’ on biodiversity loss and climate change impacts in the European Union’s (EU) outermost regions (ORs) and overseas countries and territories (OCTs). The message presents a five-year roadmap that addresses five priorities: building resilience to climate change; addressing biodiversity loss; developing a green and blue economy; advancing research; and facilitating access to resources.

Over 70% of the EU’s biodiversity occurs in its ORs and OCTs. The EU and its overseas entities also make up the largest marine domain globally with areas in every ocean, making them well placed for driving collaboration on conservation action, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The Message from Guadeloupe calls for a political vision on protecting maritime areas and identifies nature-based solutions as critical in halting biodiversity loss, adapting to climate change and ensuring sustainable development. It recommends building resilience to climate change, including through cutting carbon emissions and transitioning to renewable energy and energy autonomy.

Speaking on the conference, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Executive Secretary, Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, highlighted the role of overseas entities in achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and encouraged implementation of the Message’s five priority actions. France’s Minister for Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy, Ségolène Royal, committed to tackling biodiversity loss in French overseas entities through protecting coral reefs and mangroves; creating wetlands and marine protected areas (PAs) in French Polynesia, French Guiana and Martinique; and establishing an access and benefit-sharing (ABS) framework.

The Message also promotes the voluntary scheme for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Territories of European Overseas (BEST), which was initiated in 2008 as a sustainable partnership for financing and representative governance to support the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the EU’s ORs and OCTs. BEST also promotes ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation and mitigation.

The CBD Secretariat, the European Commission (EC), the French Government, Guadeloupe Regional Council, the Government of the British Virgin Islands (BVI), the Association of Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTA) and IUCN organized the conference, which took place from 22-25 October 2014, on Guadeloupe Island. The conference convened under the theme, ‘From Strategies to action: Turning the biodiversity and climate change challenges in the EU ORs and OCTs into opportunities.’ [IUCN Press Release] [Conference Website] [Roadmap from Guadeloupe] [BEST Website]