A key forum of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP-15) on ecological civilization in southwest China's Kunming city opened on Thursday, with participants also joining online from across the globe. They stressed the role of ecological civilization in achieving environmental sustainability and harmony with nature.

In opening remarks, Elizabeth Mrema, executive secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, said ecological civilization, a practice born in China, attaches important goals and actions to create a systemic shift toward an ecologically centered pathway for sustainable development.

The forum is the first global meeting convened by the UN on the topic of ecological civilization. The Chinese philosophy is expected to rally the global community to work towards environmental sustainability and harmony with nature.

Ruan Chengfa, secretary of Yunnan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, said, "Biodiversity is the basis for human survival and development. It's the blood and foundation of the community of life on Earth." 

He pledged that the province would make every effort to promote the post-2020 global biodiversity framework and contribute to the harmonious coexistence of man and nature on Earth.

"In recent years, the Anthropocene has emerged as a concept, embodying the negative impacts we humans have had on the very nature that we depend on," said Susan Gardner, director of Ecosystems Division of UN Environment Programme, via video link. "COP15 provides the opportunity to shift from committing to action to acting on commitments. Let today be the onset of a switch in our collective consciousness, and action towards an ecological civilization." 

Under the theme of "working together to build a harmonious and beautiful world for all life on the planet," organizers say the forum is aimed at sharing experiences and achievements in global biodiversity conservation, gathering consensus on ecological civilization and promoting exchanges and cooperation.

Echoing global cooperation, Wang Yubo, governor of Yunnan Province, told the conference that the province will deepen cooperation with South and Southeast Asian countries on biodiversity conservation, water pollution prevention and control, green infrastructure and energy, and better serve and integrate efforts with the Belt and Road Initiative.

Medals were awarded to representatives of the fifth batch of "national development of an ecological civilization" demonstration cities and counties and "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" innovation bases, as well as national and international experts and scholars.

The two-day event also includes seven sub-forums, focusing on such topics like the synergy between climate change and biodiversity, and ecological conservation and restoration. It will end with the launch of an initiative, called "Building a Shared Community of Life on Earth and Protecting Global Biodiversity."