The upcoming United Nations biodiversity summit, COP16, is set to take place in Cali, Colombia, where representatives from 190 nations, including India, will converge to tackle the pressing issues of climate change and biodiversity loss.
This significant gathering will run from October 30 to November 1, bringing together various stakeholders, including business leaders, youth groups, indigenous communities, and observer organisations, to address these interconnected challenges.
One of the highlights of COP16 is the high-level ministerial segment scheduled for October 29-30. This segment aims to advance negotiations and emphasise the importance of protecting and restoring nature through four long-term goals for 2050 and 23 actionable targets for 2030.
The urgency of these discussions is underscored by the alarming rate at which biodiversity continues to decline, despite previous global commitments to halt this trend.
India plans to unveil its updated national biodiversity targets during this summit, marking the first conference since the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) at COP15 in December 2022.
This framework represents a multilateral treaty designed to reverse the decline of nature. It encourages governments to report progress towards the 23 targets and four goals established while also inviting relevant organisations to support community-based monitoring and citizen science. This approach aims to enhance decision-making and garner public support for conservation efforts.
The GBF was agreed upon by 196 countries under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and includes 23 action targets aimed at stopping the ongoing loss of biodiversity by 2030.
As COP16 commences, governments will review the progress of implementing the GBF, demonstrating how their national biodiversity strategies align with the framework.
Another key focus of COP16 is the development of a monitoring framework and the mobilisation of resources for the GBF. A significant task includes finalising and operationalizing a multilateral mechanism to ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources.
Astrid Schomaker, the Executive Secretary of the Convention of Biological Diversity, expressed her enthusiasm for collaborating with the Colombian government to ensure that the outcomes of COP16 will accelerate action at all levels for biodiversity conservation.
The high-level segment of COP16 aims to garner political support for concluding negotiations on critical issues, such as establishing a multilateral mechanism for sharing benefits from genetic resources and mobilising resources to close the biodiversity finance gap, estimated at $700 billion annually.
In preparation for the summit, Kirti Vardhan Singh, India's Minister of State for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, met with Jorge Enrique Rojas Rodriguez, Colombia's Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, to discuss climate change and biodiversity issues.
Singh highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative, which aims to promote environmental responsibility and honour the devotion toward mothers by encouraging tree planting.
Despite the ambitions outlined in the 30x30 target, a recent report from a coalition of nature NGOs reveals that many countries are falling short of their pledges to conserve at least 30% of the ocean by 2030.
The report highlights that only 2.8% of the ocean is likely to be effectively protected, well below the target, with just 8.3% of the world's oceans designated as marine protected areas. Alarmingly, many of these areas are inadequately regulated, allowing harmful activities to continue.
Furthermore, as of late September, only 19 countries and the European Union had submitted national biodiversity strategies and action plans with marine biodiversity targets to the CBD Secretariat. This submission is a crucial step in the process of biodiversity conservation.
The urgency of the situation is emphasised by the foreword of the report, penned by John Kerry, former US Secretary of State, and José María Figueres, former President of Costa Rica.
They urge governments to act swiftly to meet the 30x30 target, stressing that protecting and conserving at least 30% of the world's oceans is vital for safeguarding marine biodiversity and the livelihoods of billions of people. This action is also crucial for preserving the ocean's ability to absorb carbon emissions, playing a significant role in combating climate change.
COP16 will also include discussions on biosafety and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources, underscoring the comprehensive approach needed to address biodiversity and climate challenges.
The summit presents a critical opportunity for nations to recommit to their environmental goals and take collective action toward preserving the planet's biodiversity for future generations.
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