COP16: Biodiversity and Achieving Peace with Nature
Wildlife populations have declined by an average 69% in the past 50 years. It is not controversial to say humans must find peace with nature.
The 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16) is taking place from 21 October to 1 November 2024 in Cali, Colombia.
The main goal is to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, a deadline that is now only six years away.
COP16 is the first Biodiversity COP since the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework at COP15 in December 2022 in Montreal, Canada.
It also serves as the 11th meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the fifth meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilisation.
COP16 also aims to finalise and put into action the method on the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources.
H.E. Susana Muhamad, Minister of Environment of Colombia, says: "This is going to be a great opportunity for one of the most biodiverse nations in the world.
“This event sends a message from Latin America to the world about the importance of climate action and the protection of life.
“It highlights the commitment of Colombia, of President Gustavo Petro and the entire country, to preserve our planet."
What is the difference between COP16 and COP29?
COP29 is scheduled to take place in 2024 from 11 to 22 November. This is the meeting for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
COP16 is the meeting for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and is focussed on the biodiversity crisis.
The UNFCCC meeting takes place each year, whilst the CBD meeting takes place each two years.
At COP16, governments and stakeholders will be reviewing the state of implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Parties attending are expected to show how their biodiversity strategies align with the framework alongside advancing resource mobilisation.
How Biodiversity COP came to be
The CBD was opened for signature in 1992 and entered into force in 1993.
All UN member states have ratified the convention except the United States.
The first meeting of the Parties to this Convention (Biodiversity COP) was held in 1994 in Nassau, Bahamas and has generally taken place every two years since.
COP16 was originally scheduled to be held in Turkey, but a series of earthquakes in 2023 led to it moving to Columbia.
The 2024 COP logo represents an Inírida flower with spiky petals that can retain their shape for years after being cut.
David Cooper, Acting Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, says: “The flower is endemic to Guainía and is a flower that never dies, its petals never fall apart.
“We hope that the COP16 in Colombia can help the world to make peace with nature, so that we can sustain and maintain life on the planet forever"
The Biodiversity COP theme for 2024 is “Peace with Nature”.
Who is attending COP16?
Delegates from 196 countries will attend the conference alongside more than 100 government ministers and several heads of state.
Target 19 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework commits to mobilising US$200bn per year for biodiversity, including US$30bn through international finance.
For the first time, some of the world’s biggest banks are sending representatives including JPMorgan Chase and Standard Chartered.
Tom Butterworth, Nature Lead at Arup, says: "This shift is happening because the biodiversity crisis has entered the boardroom.
"Firms are witnessing the real-time impacts; coffee production in decline, rice production under threat and water shortages with the potential to affect industries like brick manufacturing.
"Businesses that aim to be resilient to these risks cannot afford to ignore the link between nature and their success.
"Everyone, from an apprentice to a CEO, has a deep connection with nature, whether they realize it or not. This crisis touches everyone."
Other financial players attending include Bank of America, HSBC, Citigroup and Deutsche Bank.
Cathrine de Coninck-Lopez, Global Head of Responsible Investing at HSBC Asset Management, says she is “looking forward to furthering action and collaboration on nature in discussion with multiple stakeholders.”
Energy companies, including Iberdrola, will be in attendance to look at the industry’s impact on biodiversity and what needs to happen now to make a difference.
Matthew Bell, Global Climate Change Leader at EY, says: “A restorative relationship with Nature could finally be on the horizon.”
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