What the Sea Taught Me About Life on Earth | Françoise Jacob | TEDxYerevanSalon

Key Concepts:

• Biodiversity: Knowledge, Necessity, and Love
• UN Conventions: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification
• COP (Conference of the Parties)
• Biodiversity Hotspot
• Tradeoffs: Environmental Protection vs. Economic Needs
• Green Transformation and Just Transition
• Echo Corridor
• Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society Approach
• Agents of Change: Young People, Communities, Consumers, Private Sector

1. Personal Connection to Biodiversity:

• The speaker's journey began with a love for water and scuba diving.
• Encounter with a 7-meter whale shark off the coast of Sri Lanka evoked strong emotions and a deeper connection to nature.
• Diving in a kelp forest in South Africa's Cape of Good Hope revealed a hidden world of diverse marine life, transforming her perspective.
• The speaker expresses happiness in nature, referencing a painting by Luning.
• Personal decision to stop eating fish and meat stemming from witnessing the "killing fields" of ghost nets and their impact on marine life.

2. The Dark Side: Environmental Degradation:

• "Killing fields": Ghost nets in the ocean trapping and killing marine animals.
• Lake Sevan: Over 2,500 kilos of fish nets collected annually, beaches littered with plastic.
• The underwater world is "invisible" and forgotten, contributing to a lack of urgency in protecting it.
• Air pollution, water pollution, burning landfills, and deforestation in Armenia.
• Vulnerable populations (children, elderly, rural communities) are disproportionately affected.

3. UN's Role and Global Conventions:

• 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro: A moment of realization and hope for collective action.
• Three conventions emerged: Biodiversity, Climate Change, and Desertification.
• Armenia signed and ratified all three conventions, including the Convention on Biodiversity in 1993.
• COP (Conference of the Parties): A platform for setting objectives, negotiating actions, sharing experiences, and identifying gaps.
• Global conventions are adapted into national laws and strategies.

4. Biodiversity in Armenia:

• Armenia is a biodiversity hotspot, but this is not widely known or communicated.
• Hiking experiences revealed diverse flora, such as poppies and Caucasian irises (formerly on the red list).
• Example of Artanish Peninsula on Lake Sevan: Illegal gravel mining operation shut down after being reported.
• This incident illustrates the tradeoff between environmental protection and economic needs of local communities.

5. Tradeoffs and Sustainable Solutions:

• The need to balance environmental protection with the economic needs of communities.
• "Just transition": Moving from resource-intensive economies to green economies without increasing inequalities.
• Focus on building sustainable solutions for communities and promoting green transformation.

6. Future Actions and Recommendations:

• Raise Awareness: Increase knowledge and local data about biodiversity.
  • Example: Conflicting data on the number of volcanoes in Armenia highlights the need for accurate data.
  • High-tech sector can contribute to data collection and environmental initiatives.
• Communication: Give visibility to biodiversity and conservation efforts in Armenia.
  • Example: The creation of an "echo corridor" to allow wildlife circulation.
• Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Society Approach:
  • Involve ministries of economy, agriculture, territorial administration, mining, and construction.
  • Value the losses and liabilities from environmental destruction when calculating GDP.
• Empower Agents of Change:
  • Engage young people through the education system.
  • Work with communities, consumers, and the private sector.
• COP coming to Armenia is a "game changer" to accelerate action and change the narrative about the environment and Armenia.

7. Conclusion:

• The speaker hopes to restore nature, love, and peace through collective action.
• Emphasis on the need for increased awareness, sustainable solutions, and a collaborative approach to protect biodiversity in Armenia and globally.