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The 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16) concluded in Cali, Colombia, on 4 November 2024, with major agreements aimed at slowing biodiversity loss.
The conference saw participation from over 23,000 individuals, including political leaders, youth, and NGOs, who worked to establish new policies centred on Indigenous rights, resource-sharing, and national biodiversity goals.
Expanding Indigenous and Community Roles in Conservation
At COP16, a new Subsidiary Body was established to formalise the involvement of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) in biodiversity policymaking. This initiative is designed to ensure that the voices of IPLCs are better integrated into future conservation strategies and decisions.
Introducing the Cali Fund for Digital Genetic Information Sharing
At COP16, the “Cali Fund” was established to address the challenges of digital genetic information (DGI) and promote fair benefit-sharing. The fund aims to direct resources to IPLCs, ensuring that communities who are integral to biodiversity conservation also share in the rewards of genetic research and innovation.
National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans Gain Momentum
COP16 saw 44 countries submit updated biodiversity action plans, while 119 parties posted their national targets on the online reporting tool. While this shows progress towards the Global Biodiversity Framework’s goals, challenges remain in fully aligning national efforts with global objectives and ensuring accurate and consistent reporting of progress.
EU Leadership and the Push for ‘Nature Credits’
The European Union played a leading role at COP16 by setting clear domestic policies and offering financial support. The organisation also introduced the idea of ‘nature credits,’ a mechanism that ties conservation results to economic benefits.
While still developing, nature credits could play a key role in attracting investments to close the global funding gap in conservation.
Assessing Progress on the “30×30” Global Target
A report presented at COP16 showed that 17% of the world’s land and 8% of marine areas are now protected, with an additional 2.3 million square kilometres secured since 2020. While progress towards the “30×30” goal is underway, much more is needed to meet the target by 2030, particularly in expanding protection zones and improving marine conservation efforts.
Challenges and Unfinished Business at COP16
While progress has been made towards the 30×30 target, challenges remain in expanding conservation zones and improving marine protection. Key issues, including monitoring systems and funding for biodiversity, were not fully addressed due to time constraints at COP16. Future discussions will need to focus on ensuring sufficient resources for the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework, with financial gaps unresolved.
Looking Ahead to COP17 and Beyond
COP16 will reconvene at a later time to complete decisions, including unresolved budget issues. The next COP is scheduled for 2026 in Yerevan, Armenia, where the goal will be to build on the achievements of Cali and address the remaining challenges to effective biodiversity protection.
Until then, the world’s conservation efforts will depend on implementing the decisions made in Cali, with a focus on aligning funding and policies to protect Earth’s ecosystems.