M'sia Wants Renewed Political Commitment For Environmental Sustainability

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's primary objective in the just-ended Biological Diversity Convention is to secure renewed political commitment in ensuring environmental sustainability, says Natural Resources and Environment Minister G. Palanivel. He said the ministry was also targeting a significant reduction in the rate of biodiversity loss. "Many gaps remain in the implementation of the commitment under the convention, especially the Strategic Plan of Biodiversity 2011 till 2020, as the Aichi Biodiversity targets at the Convention on Biological Diversity held in Nagoya, Japan in 2010 which consists of 20 new biodiversities. "These gaps, including those relating to technology, finance and capacity building must be dealt with, especially for developing countries, including Malaysia," he said in a statement here Friday. Palanivel was speaking at the 12th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Pyeongchang, South Korea Thursday. His speech text was sent to Bernama Friday. -- BERNAMA