This is one of the most important events in the world from the point of view of conservation of biodiversity. Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city, is hosting the conference, where 15,000 attendees are expected.
These include heads of state, over a hundred ministers and over a thousand international journalists.
Held once every two years, the conference aims to promote international cooperation, agree investments to protect ecosystems and strengthen global environmental policies.
Earlier, during the COP15 summit in 2022, the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Framework was agreed upon. This important plan focuses on halting and restoring biodiversity loss by 2030. We have collected important information on this…
What is biodiversity?
According to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), biodiversity refers to the diversity within species and between different species and ecosystems. These include plants, animals, bacteria, fungi and together they make life possible on Earth despite all their complexity.
Species diversity maintains the balance of global ecosystems. Humanity gets everything it needs to survive from nature – food, clean water, medicine and shelter, among other things.
Biodiversity is our strongest natural defense against the challenges of climate change. Land and ocean ecosystems act as carbon stores and absorb half of total carbon emissions.
The ’16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity’, also known as CBD COP16 for short, is being held in the city of Cali.
Delegates gathered at the COP16 conference will discuss measures to restore land and oceans from rapid degradation. The process will also emphasize the rights of tribal people and local communities.
An important goal will be to fully implement the ’30 by 30′ resolution under the Kunming-Montreal Framework on the ground. It focuses on conserving 30 percent of land and inland waters, marine and coastal areas by 2030.
Motivation for action
After the Kunming-Montreal Framework was passed in 2022, this conference is being organized for the first time on the important issue of biodiversity.
The conference, which officially began on October 21 in Cali, will continue until November 1. The region is surrounded by forests, clear water streams, green hills and the magical sound of the Pacific Ocean in the northwest of the country.
The beauty of Colombia’s Pacific region is captured on postcards. This country is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of biodiversity. There are 311 types of continental and marine ecosystems per square kilometer.
The country is home to more than a thousand species of birds, thousands of plant species and 53 percent of its area is covered by forests.
Colombia’s selection to host the COP16 summit reflects the region’s importance to the global biodiversity agenda and ecosystem conservation.
Biodiversity Plan
UN chief Antonio Guterres addressed the opening ceremony of the conference through a video message on Sunday evening.
He urged delegates gathered from more than 190 countries to make peace with nature, stop habitat degradation and species extinction, and protect ecosystems.
The Secretary-General said the Montreal-Kunming Global Framework is based on reality, to save humanity and improve nature.
Fish swim in a coral reef nursery in Corrales del Rosario National Park, Colombia.
It promises to reimagine our relationship with the earth and ecosystem.
The UN chief said specific investments and mobilization of public and private financial resources must be ensured to achieve the targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
According to the UN Secretary General, we have a plan to save humanity on a planet that is being destroyed and at the conclusion of the COP we will see how well the delegates have done their job.
Colombia, the center of global climate action
Colombian Environment Minister and COP16 President Susana Mohamed said Colombia has emerged as a center of attention for global climate action.
The country is bringing together experts and leaders to tackle the biggest challenges of our time: protecting our planet and ensuring a sustainable future.
He pointed out that it is important to understand that if we protect all forms of life, we will also be able to protect ourselves. Through this we can establish the principle of peace with nature, which means finding peace in the village.