Bill Clinton: “Diversity November 19, 1993 To the Senate of the United States: I transmit herewith, for the advice and consent of the…”

“Diversity November 19, 1993 To the Senate of the United States: I transmit herewith, for the advice and consent of the Senate to ratification, the Convention on Biological Diversity, with Annexes, done at Rio de Janeiro, June 5, 1992, and signed by the United States in New York on June 4, 1993. The report of the Department of State is also enclosed for the information of the Senate. The final text of the Convention was adopted in Nairobi by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a Convention on Biological Diversity (INC) on May 22, 1992. The INC was preceded by three technical meetings of an Ad Hoc Working Group of Experts on Biological Diversity and two meetings of an Ad Hoc Working Group of Legal and Technical Experts. Five sessions of the INC were held, from June 1991 to May 1992. The Convention was opened for signature at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro on June 5, 1992. The Convention is a comprehensive agreement, addressing the many facets of biological diversity. It will play a major role in stemming the loss of the earth's species, their habitats, and ecosystems through the Convention's obligations to conserve biodiversity and sustainably use its components as well as its provisions that facilitate access to genetic resources and access to and transfer of technology so crucial to long-term sustainable development of the earth's biological resources.…”