May 22 is International Day for Biological Diversity. As scientists warn of a catastrophic wave of extinctions, China is preparing to host the United Nations (UN) COP-15 Summit on conserving biodiversity in southwest China's Kunming city in October.

Environment Minister Huang Runqiu said China will work to make the summit a cornerstone in global efforts.

"As the host of the summit, China will carefully fulfill its duties and obligations, deeply involve itself in global efforts to protect biodiversity, and join with others to contribute its own wisdom and efforts," Huang said.

He stressed the situation is dire as reports show that 26 percent of mammal species are on the verge of extinction and so are 41 percent of amphibians and 14 percent of birds.

In 2010, almost 200 governments agreed to 20 biodiversity targets. None of those targets have been fully achieved. 

"So, it is high time for action. And Kunming, I think, has the opportunity to come up with the ambitious transformation, post 2020 global biodiversity framework," said Beate Trankmann, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative in China.

Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity delivered a speech via video link.

"The negotiations for the post 2020 global biodiversity framework - that will be at the center of the conference. [There's a] need to produce a robust, ambitious, and universal framework that we set the world on a path to restore nature and build a balanced relationship with it," she said.

Chinese government ministries held events on Friday to mark the International Day for Biodiversity, pledging more efforts.

Beijing says COP-15 is an important opportunity for the international community to accelerate efforts to balance development with sustainability. As for a positive outcome from the meeting, full preparations are underway.

(Cover image via VCG; video edited by Chen Shi)

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