International Biodiversity Day 2025: Over 100 stakeholders come together TO SHARE

Updated: 5 days ago

As part of International Day for Biological Diversity, the Centre for Sustainable Development hosted a high-level event on May 22. Numerous participants, including representatives from government, diplomatic, and civil society circles, gathered to celebrate and consolidate the mobilization efforts that have taken place since COP15 in Montreal.

The event, organized by Ateliers pour la biodiversité and the Quebec Youth Network for Biodiversity (GYBN Québec), served as a platform for dialogue and the launch of a new era of collaboration.

Speeches by dignitaries and experts

The evening began with a series of speeches emphasizing the importance of concerted action.

Ms. Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), highlighted the symbolic importance of Montreal as the birthplace of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. She emphasized the need to maintain momentum to achieve the targets set for 2030.
Ms. Marie-Andrée Mauger, Mayor of the Verdun borough and responsible for ecological transition at the City of Montreal, presented the city's bold local initiatives, including an ambitious tree planting plan and the goal of protecting a significant portion of the land area. She also praised the role of the Montreal Youth Council in the development of municipal policies.
Ms. Frédérique Pellerin-Catellier, advisor to the Ministry of International Relations and La Francophonie, highlighted Quebec's Nature 2030 Plan, which is backed by substantial investment. She emphasized that this plan is part of a collaborative approach, particularly with Indigenous peoples, to ensure effective implementation.
Mr. Stéphane Carrier, Director of Communications at LOJIQ, expressed his pride in seeing the emergence of GYBN Quebec, the result of long-standing support for young leaders participating in international summits.
Mr. Kevin Martinez, President of the Montreal Youth Council, presented the recommendations resulting from the organization's work, advocating in particular for the recognition of the “right of nature” as a legal mechanism for protecting ecosystems.
Ms. Elyssa Hidar, member of the Quebec Youth Network for Biodiversity, spoke on behalf of the organization to present the mission of GYBN Québec. She emphasized the goal of transforming eco-anxiety into concrete action and ensuring that young people's perspectives are systematically integrated into dialogues on biodiversity.

Launch and strategic discussions

The official launch of GYBN Quebec was a highlight of the evening. Some of the founding members, Mr. Eliot Bergeron, Mr. Ivan Dabiré, and Ms. Elyssa Hidar, reaffirmed the network's commitment to building bridges between generations and sectors and providing an influential platform for youth.

A panel discussion, moderated by Ms. Laura Fequino, policy analyst at Ateliers pour la biodiversité, concluded the formal part of the event. The panel brought together diverse perspectives to explore the implementation of commitments:

Ms. Chantal Robichaud (CDB) explained how the secretariat incorporates the voices of young people into its processes, emphasizing the importance of considering them as experts rather than mere observers. She highlighted efforts to break down silos at the international level, particularly by linking biodiversity to other issues such as pollution and climate change.
Mr. Eliot Bergeron (GYBN Quebec) reiterated the need to move beyond the political aspect of nature and focus on love for nature, which is the first step toward engagement. He advocated for an approach that avoids fragmentation and promotes immediate action.
Ms. Frédérique Pellerin-Catellier (Government of Quebec) emphasized collaboration as a driver of sustainability. She cited examples of successful partnerships, such as the one with NGOs to develop impact indicators for investors, and reiterated that civil society engagement has a direct impact on government work.
Mr. Kevin Martinez (Montreal Youth Council) highlighted the role of non-partisan youth councils as guarantors of political continuity despite changes in administration. He emphasized that embedding initiatives in the local social fabric makes them more difficult to reverse.
Ms. Marie Lafontaine (City of Montreal) shared her experience in the field, explaining how her work aims to transform the perception of biodiversity from an “obstacle” to an “opportunity” in urban projects. She emphasized the importance of knowledge transfer among colleagues to ensure the long-term sustainability of projects.

Discussions converged on the idea that overcoming obstacles requires an intersectoral and intergenerational approach, thereby transforming challenges into opportunities for collaboration.

After the speeches, participants had the opportunity to network. This informal period allowed stakeholders from various backgrounds to meet, exchange ideas, and explore potential collaborations. The event not only celebrated achievements but also laid the foundation for ongoing collaboration.

Conclusion and future prospects

The evening demonstrated the power of a unified commitment to biodiversity. Collaboration between different stakeholders, governments, international organizations, and young people was presented as the main lever for achieving sustainable development goals.