BirdLife call for unified approach in tackling global poverty and conserving biodiversity

The environment and biodiversity must be at the heart of work to eliminate poverty and promote economic prosperity across the world.

That is the message from BirdLife International and its UK Partner the RSPB, during a landmark meeting of UK government and non-governmental organisations occurring today in London.

The conference, titled ‘A Global Future: Development Pathways in a Climate Changing World’ was organised in recognition that in an era of climate change, what happens in one part of the globe can affect the rest of the planet – and that it is the poorest and the natural world that will be most severely affected.

During the event, Hilary Benn, the UK’s Secretary of State for International Development and David Milliband, Secretary of State for the Environment, will outline their joint commitment to tackling global poverty while protecting the environment.

The conference was organised by the Development and Environment Group (DEG) of BOND (British Overseas NGOs for Development) with the Up in Smoke coalition –UK non-government organisations involved in overseas development and aid.

Joanna Phillips, head of trade and international development policy at the RSPB, is chair of DEG and helped organise the event.

She said: “A healthy, functioning environment is central to successful long term development and to eliminating poverty. Wherever you are in the world, a healthy environment is vital for a decent quality of life – for the poorest, it can mean survival.

“Despite this, the environment is routinely neglected or undervalued in government plans for economic growth.”

She stressed: “We need to do more to help developing countries overcome poverty through supporting sound management and sustainable use of environmental assets and natural resources, and through ensuring that our own lifestyles and choices are not harming the poor and the environment.”