UN Biodiversity summit COP16 begins in Colombia to debate how to save nature

The two-week United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16) has started on Monday in Colombia to assess historic commitments to halt and reverse the loss of nature.

Environmental leaders from nearly 200 countries are expected to participate, where 196 countries signed an ambitious global treaty, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, to protect biodiversity.

Under the theme, “Peace With Nature” the COP 16 will be tasked with reviewing the state of implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Parties to the Convention are expected to show the alignment of their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) with the Framework.

COP 16 will further develop the monitoring framework and advance resource mobilization for the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Among other tasks, COP 16 is also due to finalize and operationalize the multilateral mechanism on the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources.

Speaking at the opening remarks Minister of Environment of Colombia Susana Muhamad, said, “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” she added.

Echoing the same sentiments, Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention of Biological Diversity said, “Let me also express my enthusiasm to work with the government of Colombia, and in particular Susana Muhamad, our incoming president, to ensure that the outcomes of COP 16 accelerate action at all levels to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity.”

In a video message to the opening ceremony of the gathering Secretary-General António Guterres called upon the delegates to “make peace with nature” and shore up a plan to stop habitat loss, save endangered species, and preserve our planet’s precious ecosystems”.

Formally the 16th meeting of the Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, known by the shorthand CBD COP16, the summit marks the first global gathering on this vital issue since 2022, when countries agreed on the historic Kunming-Montreal Global Framework (GBF), the most far-reaching action plan to protect biodiversity.

The UN Biodiversity Conference, COP15, held in Montreal, Canada, with a landmark agreement to protect 30 per cent of the planet’s lands, coastal areas and inland waters by the end of the decade.

COP15 also saw the launch of a platform to help countries to ramp up implementation of the Framework.

Twenty-three countries, led by Colombia and supported by Germany, signed a declaration establishing the Accelerator Partnership to support governments in fast tracking implementation of their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).