Highlights
- The Global Biodiversity Framework Fund has only collected $238 million
- The summit is expected to be the largest biodiversity conference to date
- It will focus on re-energizing commitments and course-correcting
The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) commenced in Colombia on Monday October 21), drawing 12,000 delegates from nearly 200 countries. However, the summit faces both high expectations and significant challenges, not least due to a security threat from local rebel groups.
Hosted in the western city of Cali, the conference will run until November 1, with the theme “Peace with Nature.” Colombian authorities have deployed more than 10,000 police officers and military personnel to secure the event, amid warnings from the EMC rebel group, a faction of the disbanded FARC guerilla army, which urged foreign delegations to stay away and predicted the conference’s failure.
The two-week conference will put pressure on countries to demonstrate their commitment to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework agreement. Two years after the landmark deal to halt nature destruction by 2030, many countries are falling behind on their commitments.
Guterres Calls for Financial Commitments to Protect Biodiversity
In a video message to the summit’s delegates, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres underscored the urgency of funding efforts to combat biodiversity loss. Guterres emphasized the need for countries to bolster the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF), created last year to support the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). This framework, adopted in 2022, set out 23 ambitious targets aimed at reversing biodiversity loss by 2030.
“To avoid a future where nature’s services—such as pollination and clean water—collapse, leading to trillions in economic losses, countries must honor their promises on finance and ramp up support for developing nations,” Guterres warned.
As of now, only $250 million has been pledged to the GBFF, well below the goal of mobilizing $200 billion annually by 2030, including $20 billion per year from wealthier nations to assist developing countries.
‘Peace with Nature’ at the Heart of COP16
Colombian President Gustavo Petro, attending the summit’s opening, reiterated his commitment to environmental protection in one of the world’s most biodiverse countries. However, Petro acknowledged the difficulties Colombia faces, particularly due to ongoing conflicts with rebel groups, such as the EMC, who are involved in illegal activities like drug trafficking and mining in biodiverse regions.
Cali’s mayor, Alejandro Eder, sought to reassure delegates, stating that security measures had been in place since February to safeguard the city, which lies close to territory controlled by the EMC. Despite the unrest, President Petro stressed that achieving “peace with nature” is crucial, linking environmental preservation with the broader peace-building efforts in Colombia.
Urgent Action Needed as Species Face Extinction
As COP16 unfolds, delegates are tasked with finding ways to implement the GBF’s 23 targets, including the protection of 30% of the world’s land and seas by 2030.
With just five years remaining to meet these goals, experts warn that time is running out. Notably, British primatologist Jane Goodall highlighted the summit’s importance, stating, “The time for words and false promises is past if we want to save the planet.”
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reports that over one million species—about a quarter of those assessed—are threatened with extinction, further underlining the urgency of action. With so much at stake, the success of COP16 will depend not just on political will but on securing the necessary financial commitments and creating effective monitoring systems to ensure countries stay on track to meet the 2030 targets.
Colombia’s Environmental Commitment Amid Conflict
Colombia, one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet, has made environmental protection a key priority under President Petro’s leadership. However, the country’s history of armed conflict, involving guerilla groups, paramilitaries, and drug cartels, has complicated conservation efforts. The EMC’s threats to disrupt the summit reflect the broader challenges Colombia faces in balancing peace and environmental preservation. Yet, authorities remain optimistic, insisting that despite the tension, the summit can still deliver on its ambitious agenda.
As COP16 progresses, the world will be watching to see if the delegates can turn promises into tangible action, secure the funding needed to protect biodiversity, and set a path toward a more sustainable future.
