The UN Biodiversity Summit, COP16, kicked off in Cali, Colombia, on October 21, 2024, and it is all about “Peace with Nature.” This is a big deal for global environmental conservation to protect nature. The event has really caught the world’s eye, bringing together 15,000 participants. That includes a dozen world leaders, 103 ministers, activists, and 1,000 journalists, all coming together to brainstorm new ways to protect nature. It is pretty alarming to see that global wildlife populations have dropped by 73% in the past 50 years, and even more shocking is the 95% decline in Latin America and the Caribbean.

This two-week conference is a follow-up to the 2022 meetings in Montreal, where representatives from 196 countries came together to sign an important global treaty focused on protecting biodiversity. They agreed on 23 measures designed to stop and reverse the loss of nature. One important goal is to safeguard 30% of the planet and 30% of damaged ecosystems by 2030. Colombia, the host nation, is a great fit for the event. It boasts nearly 10% of the world’s biodiversity and takes the top spot for bird and orchid diversity. Plus, it ranks second in plants, butterflies, freshwater fish, and amphibians. It is a great place to advocate for the protection of nature and biodiversity.

In her opening remarks, Colombia’s Environment Minister and COP16 President Susana Muhamad emphasized how important the summit is. She pointed out that it is a great opportunity to tap into the collective wisdom of civilisations and cultures from throughout history, aiming to establish stable and livable conditions for a new society as we tackle today’s challenges.

Let’s start by defining some terms related to COP16 to help clear things up a bit.

COP16’s Main Focus: Biodiversity

Biodiversity is the vast variety of life forms in a specific area, from animals and plants to fungi and microorganisms. These species interact within ecosystems, forming a complex network that maintains balance and supports all life. Biodiversity provides us with essentials like food, clean water, medicine, and shelter.

This rich variety of life on Earth is not only crucial for maintaining the health of ecosystems but also for human survival. Without biodiversity, the intricate systems that sustain life would collapse. First coined in 1985, biodiversity refers to the variation in species at all levels of life, from plants and animals to microorganisms, spanning both natural and artificial ecosystems. Biodiversity can be categorized into three main types:

1. Genetic Diversity: Genetic diversity refers to the range of genetic variations found within a species. Even among individuals of the same species, there can be considerable differences in their genetic makeup. For instance, humans exhibit significant genetic differences, with individuals from various regions of the world displaying a wide array of traits and characteristics.

2. Species Diversity: Species diversity refers to the variety and distribution of species in a given region, which can vary significantly based on local environmental conditions. For instance, areas with abundant water resources tend to support a greater number of species compared to drier regions. It is often observed that communities living near water bodies tend to have higher species diversity than those in more arid areas.

3. Ecological Diversity: Ecological diversity refers to the range of ecosystems in a region, such as rainforests, deserts, and wetlands, each of which supports a unique set of species and processes essential for sustaining life. Different ecosystems, like mangroves or rainforests, host a wide variety of life forms, highlighting the rich diversity of organisms adapted to different environmental conditions.

Also Read: COP15 30×30 Goal Lags: Only 2.8% Of Oceans Protected, Far From 2030 Target

The Global Biodiversity Threats

Biodiversity is essential for the survival of our planet, as it underpins ecosystem services like pollination, water purification, and carbon sequestration. Unfortunately, human activities—such as habitat destruction, overhunting, pollution, and climate change—are rapidly diminishing biodiversity. One significant factor is habitat fragmentation, where natural habitats are divided into smaller, isolated areas, hindering species ability to reproduce and thrive.

An unparalleled loss of biodiversity is being faced by the globe today. The UN Environment Programme reports that over one million plant and animal species are in danger of extinction, making this the worst mass extinction event since the dinosaurs. Ecosystems and people alike are in great danger from the current rate of biodiversity loss since we depend on it for resources like food, water, and medicine. The natural mechanisms that keep life on Earth afloat are in danger of becoming unstable due to environmental deterioration. In a joint study released this month by WWF and the Zoological Society of London, the Living Planet, the world’s animal populations have declined by an average of 73% over the last half-century.

According to Miller of Amazon Watch, indigenous people are facing significant risks as they work to preserve biodiversity and combat climate change. Using land for human purposes, especially food production, is the primary factor for biodiversity loss. Well over 70% of the area that is no longer covered by ice has already been shaped by humans. Species of plants and animals may go extinct if their habitats are destroyed to make way for farms. In the midst of a meadow or woodland, for instance, we build a road. There is a decrease in population size and reproductive capacity among resident species as a result of habitat fragmentation, which splits them into two groups.

The threat of extinction for some species is a sobering reality, and many species are being forced to leave their homes as a result of global warming in search of more-suited temperatures. Animals such as the rhinoceros are still in danger due to overhunting, which also led to the unfortunate demise of the passenger pigeon. The yearly economic harm caused by invasive species in the US alone is estimated to be $120–140 billion.

What is COP?

COP is short for Conference of the Parties, and it usually refers to the international meeting under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that centres around climate issues. The COP is basically the main group that makes decisions for the UNFCCC. It has representatives from all the countries that have agreed to join and follow the UNFCCC. The UNFCCC COP happens every year, giving everyone a chance to talk about new measures and check how well Parties are doing in reaching the main goal of the UNFCCC, which is to limit climate change.

Every year, different countries host a meeting where government representatives come together to share updates on their progress, set some intermediate goals, agree on sharing scientific and technological advancements that benefit everyone, and discuss policies.

Source: UNDP

In June 1992, 154 countries came together to sign the UNFCCC, all agreeing to tackle the negative effects humans have on the climate. Since then, they have been holding COP meetings almost every year to chat about how to make that happen and keep an eye on the progress that has been made. People usually talk about each COP by its number in the series, like how COP26 was the 26th meeting.

Also Read: UN COP16: Colombia Spotlights Indigenous Inclusion In Nature Summit Agenda

COP16 Agenda to Protect Nature

In 2022, at COP15 in Montreal, wealthy nations committed to assisting poor nations in meeting their environmental targets with a minimum yearly contribution of $20 billion beginning in 2025 and increasing to $30 billion by 2030. So far, efforts to protect biodiversity have not been sufficient. Developing nations received over $15.4 billion in aid for biodiversity in 2022, an increase from $11.4 billion the previous year, as reported by the OECD. The COP16 summit will primarily address financial matters, in addition to reviewing the world’s progress on the biodiversity framework and outlining future objectives. Global investments in biodiversity and funding for the biodiversity framework have received around $250 million from nations so far, according to Al Jazeera’s reporting on the Biodiversity Framework Fund.

The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, emphasized the importance of leaving Cali with a substantial investment in the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund as well as promises to secure more public and private funding to implement the Framework in its entirety. Paying the home country for physical sample exchange has long been a topic of national legislation and the 2010 Nagoya Protocol. The goal of the summit is to create a worldwide system of multilateral agreements to charge for the use of digital sequence information, which contains genetic material extracted from various sources such as plants, animals, and bacteria. In addition, a new initiative to incorporate traditional knowledge into national conservation strategies and choices will be finalized during COP16.

Colombia, the host nation of COP16 in Cali, has prioritised the participation of Indigenous and traditional groups. The United Nations Agency for the Convention on Biological Diversity has emphasised the importance of Indigenous communities in voluntary isolation and has advocated for specific safeguards for these people. This office supervises the implementation of the original 1992 nature agreement. Countries are now required to detail their strategies for achieving over twenty-five internationally recognised biodiversity objectives, two years after negotiating the historic Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Leaders are increasingly considering strategies to tackle both biodiversity and global climate initiatives at the same time, despite the fact that the two have historically been handled independently by nations. The destruction of biodiversity and the acceleration of extinctions are both caused by climate change, and protecting nature helps to slow it down. “Biodiversity is as important, complementary and indispensable as the energy transition and decarbonisation,” said Muhamad, minister of the environment, in an interview with local media last month.

Conclusion

With everyone coming together in Cali for COP16, it is pretty clear that we are running out of time to safeguard the planet’s biodiversity and protect nature. The conference is a great chance for countries to look at how far they have come since COP15 and to really step up their efforts on the ground. But to reach these goals, we really need to see some amazing teamwork, financial backing, and strong political commitment.

We are really hoping that COP16 will be a game changer, encouraging countries to step up and protect nature and biodiversity for the sake of future generations. Colombia, a vibrant country, is hosting this important summit, and everyone around the globe is watching with a sense of shared responsibility and urgency. The fate of countless species and even humanity’s future could really hinge on the choices made in Cali.

Also Read: World Lags Meeting 2030 Biodiversity Goals As COP16 Talks Begin