H.K.H. Kronprinsessans tal vid rundabordssamtal med anledning av Kronprinsessan Victorias professur i biodiversitet

To soon turn 50 may not necessarily fill you – or should I say me? – with the greatest excitement. But to my surprise, this upcoming milestone has already given me one very exciting gift: a professorship in biodiversity – in my name.

Let me therefore begin by saying how very touched and pleased I am by this gift, and today’s round table discussion that comes with it. The two greatest “thanks” must of course go to Carl Bennet and to the University of Gothenburg. Without you this professorship would not be possible, and I cannot thank you enough.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Since I was a child, nature and how everything in it is connected has fascinated me. I have been amazed by how species can adapt to their environment, live through hardship and the current circumstances around them.

But over the years, as I have grown older, I have also come to understand how fragile our nature is. Even though Mother Nature is resilient, can take a lot of hardship, heal and mend herself, she cannot do so forever. When the tipping point is reached, there will be no return. This is something we, as humans, need to remember and we all need to work to protect our nature.

So, today we have gathered a remarkable group of people with deep knowledge and diverse perspectives to take on a question that could not be more urgent:
What research and innovative policy instruments are needed to reverse current global loss of biodiversity?

We need to identify the gaps in our understanding and set clear priorities for research. Because without knowledge, even the best intentions risk falling short.

Tomorrow, on the International Day for Biological Diversity, the international theme will be Acting locally for global impact. It highlights the importance of local action in safeguarding biodiversity at a global level. It is therefore essential to bring together high-level stakeholders from the global, regional and local levels. And that is exactly what we are doing here today.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity is both a legal framework and a moral compass. It tells us something fundamental: that all species have a right to exist, and that life on this planet is deeply interconnected. We, as humans, are not separate from the ecosystem, we are part of it, dependent on its balance for our own health and survival.

To preserve the ecosystem is not optional. It is a responsibility we all share. In the choices we make as individuals, and in the decisions made by countries and international organisations.

I am convinced that one of the most powerful ways forward lies in strengthening research on system thinking and innovative policy instruments to match the scale of the challenge.

So let us begin.

Let us use this round table to exchange ideas and to shape direction. The insights you bring today will feed directly into the University of Gothenburg’s research. I already look forward to continuing this conversation at next year’s high-level round table.

Thank you.