Our water, food, medicines, clothes, fuel, shelter, energy... all these depend on healthy and vibrant ecosystems, no matter the progress in technology. Biodiversity is the foundation upon which we can build back better. Yet, while there is a growing awareness that biological diversity is a global asset of tremendous value to future generations, a number of species is still being significantly reduced by certain human activities. Human action has significantly altered three quarters of the land-based environment and two thirds of the marine environment. On World Biodiversity Day we are reminded that we humans are part of the solution to this problem.

On 21 May 2021 in Rome, the European Commission and Italy, as chair of the G20, will co-host the Global Health Summit.

The Summit is an opportunity for G20 and invited leaders, heads of international and regional organisations, and representatives of global health bodies, to share lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, and develop and endorse a ‘Rome Declaration’ of principles.