Environmental leaders from almost 200 countries have gathered in Colombia for the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16) to assess historic commitments to protect biodiversity. Following the 2022 Montreal meetings where a global treaty, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, was signed by 196 countries, delegates in Cali will be discussing how to save nature from the current rapid rate of destruction and fulfill the demands of the 2022 accord. This includes setting aside 30 percent of territories for conservation, reducing subsidies for businesses harming nature, and requiring companies to report their environmental impact. By the start of the summit, 31 out of 195 countries had submitted their biodiversity plans to the UN biodiversity secretariat.
At the 2022 COP15, wealthy nations pledged to contribute at least $20 billion annually from 2025 onwards to assist developing countries in meeting their nature goals, with the target increasing to $30 billion by 2030. However, by 2022, only $15.4 billion had been raised, raising concerns about funding. The COP16 agenda includes re-energizing commitments made in 2022 and correcting courses to achieve the 2030 targets. UN chief Antonio Guterres emphasized the need for significant investment in the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund set up in 2022. The conference will also address the intersection of climate change and biodiversity decline, with leaders aiming to mobilize additional funding for conservation efforts.
The summit aims to establish a global multilateral system for paying for access to genetic data known as digital sequence information. COP16 will also focus on incorporating traditional knowledge into national conservation plans and decisions. The UN office for the Convention on Biological Diversity has called for special protections for Indigenous groups, particularly those in voluntary isolation, to recognize their role in nature conservation. Indigenous populations are seeking recognition of their rights and ancestral knowledge, highlighting their importance in protecting biodiversity. Indigenous groups in Colombia have been preparing for COP16 to showcase their impact on world conservation efforts and ensure their voices are heard.
Colombia’s Environment Minister and COP16 President stressed the importance of recognizing biodiversity as crucial as the energy transition and decarbonization efforts. The conference will also discuss ways to address the ongoing destruction of nature through activities like logging and overfishing, missed deadlines on biodiversity action plans, and the funding gap for conservation efforts. Leaders at COP16 are expected to look for solutions to meet the 2025 goal for funding conservation efforts. The summit is an opportunity for countries to mobilize additional sources of public and private finance for biodiversity protection. Additionally, there will be a focus on integrating climate change issues with biodiversity protection and finding ways to address the challenges arising from the continued destruction of nature.
