Director-General's remarks for World Bee Day 2026

World Bee Day 2026
“Bee united for people and the planet”

Wednesday, 27 May 2026 at 11.30 a.m.
H Building

Delivered on behalf of the Director-General by Ms. Tatiana Molcean, Executive Secretary 
of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
 

Ambassador Pipan [Permanent Representative of Slovenia]
Ambassador Thöni [Deputy Permanent Representative of Switzerland]
Mr. Burgeon [Director, FAO Liaison Office in Geneva]
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

On behalf of Ms. Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, who regrets that she is unable to join us today, it is a great honour to be with you as we mark the 9th World Bee Day.  

Our sincere appreciation goes to the Permanent Missions of Slovenia, Switzerland, Ethiopia and Mexico, as well as the Food and Agriculture Organization, for bringing us together here at the Palais des Nations, nestled in Ariana Park.

This unique setting — home to a small but vibrant ecosystem, including its well-known peacocks and, at times, grazing sheep —reminds us that nature is never far away, even in this center of multilateralism. For nearly 15 years, bees have also been part of life at the Palais des Nations thanks to the gift of 10 beehives from Switzerland — a reflection of the close ties between our human environment and the natural world.

This year’s celebration comes at a meaningful moment. Alongside World Bee Day, we also marked last week the International Day for Biological Diversity. Together, they remind us that the health of people and the health of our planet are deeply interconnected.

Bees and other pollinators are a powerful example of this connection. Often unnoticed, they sustain much of what we depend on — from the food on our plates to the ecosystems that support life.

Their contribution is immense. Pollinators are vital to more than 75% of the world’s crop production, including fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, and they support nearly 90% of wild flowering plants. Without them, our diets would be less diverse and less nutritious, and our landscapes far poorer in both colour and life.

At the same time, pollinators are under growing pressure. Habitat loss, climate change, pollution and unsustainable agricultural practices are taking their toll. When pollinators decline, the consequences ripple outward — affecting food production, livelihoods and ecosystems.

As the UN Secretary-General has reminded us, “making peace with nature is the defining task of the 21st century.” Protecting pollinators is an essential part of this effort — helping to restore a more balanced relationship with the natural world. It is also key to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals: ending hunger, protecting life on land, and supporting progress across the entire 2030 Agenda.

Geneva, as a hub of international cooperation, has a particular role to play in bringing these efforts together. Today’s event is a good example of that.

Bees themselves offer a powerful lesson: resilience is built — through many small, coordinated contributions that sustain something far greater.

Let us carry this lesson forward, in our work and in our choices, as we strive to protect the systems that nourish us all.

Thank you.