World Leaders Unite to Combat Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss
As the world grapples with the ongoing challenges posed by COVID-19, 2021 emerges as a crucial year for environmental conservation, highlighted by significant summits such as the G7, the Illegal Wildlife Trade Summit, COP26, the G20, and the Convention on Biological Diversity in China. These gatherings provide a platform for global leaders to address the pressing climate and biodiversity crises that demand urgent attention.
Leaders like President Ali Bongo Ondimba of Gabon emphasize the need for collective action, asserting that no single nation can tackle the climate crisis alone. “Given the scale of the risks to people and the planet, we simply cannot stand by and watch wildlife continue to disappear without strengthening our collective response, including international laws for combating and preventing wildlife crime,” he stated.
As a founding member of the Giants Club—an initiative launched by the international conservation organization Space for Giants—President Bongo has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to protecting Africa’s vital ecosystems. The Giants Club brings together influential leaders from various sectors to collaborate on initiatives that aim to save wildlife and preserve natural habitats.
The club’s diverse membership, comprising political figures, philanthropists, and sustainability advocates, provides a robust voice on the global stage, promoting policies that prioritize wildlife protection. Members create opportunities for dialogue on critical environmental issues and work to secure funding for sustainable initiatives.
Earlier this year, the Giants Club welcomed Dubai Ports World (DP World), a major logistics provider, to help disrupt the multi-billion-dollar illegal wildlife trade that exploits loopholes in the monitoring of global shipments. Collaborating with DP World, Space for Giants is focused on enhancing port security and strengthening judicial systems to ensure proper penalties for those involved in wildlife trafficking.
Another new member, artist and philanthropist Alya Michelson, has been an advocate for animal welfare and played a role in passing California’s Wildlife Protection Act of 2019. She emphasizes that addressing unsustainable relationships with nature is crucial, stating, “Investment in nature—including ending deforestation and controlling the wildlife trade—is essential.”
Julie-Anne Uggla, another Giants Club member, has been involved in charitable work since 1992, founding Zamcog, a charity supporting vulnerable children in Zambia. Her efforts have expanded Space for Giants’ wildlife justice program across the KAZA region, reflecting her commitment to ecological sustainability.
Magnus Rausing, founder of MAHR Projects, and entrepreneur James Knight, who established Keystone Law, also contribute their expertise to the Giants Club. They, along with other members, are committed to raising awareness and funding for conservation efforts, advocating for policies that align with current environmental needs.
Laurel Mader, a strategic marketing consultant with WWF South Africa, shares her passion for biodiversity conservation rooted in her South African upbringing. Her strategic insight is instrumental in advancing environmental projects that seek to combat biodiversity loss.
Together, the latest members of the Giants Club are amplifying the call for global policies that address environmental challenges, fostering focused action on the ground to drive meaningful change. As leaders gather for crucial summits, the collective effort to safeguard our planet’s biodiversity has never been more urgent.
