Biodiversity Leaders Gather in Cali for COP 16
By CCN News | Published:Oct 21, 2024
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Image Source: Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16)
A Global Call to Action on Climate and Biodiversity
The Sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 16) kicks off today in Cali, Colombia, running from October 21 to November 1, 2024. This significant event brings together nations from around the world to address critical issues related to biodiversity conservation and climate action. H.E. Susana Muhamad, Colombia's Minister of Environment, emphasized the importance of this conference for one of the world's most biodiverse nations. “This is going to be a great opportunity for… climate action and the protection of life,” she stated, underscoring Colombia's commitment to environmental preservation under President Gustavo Petro's leadership.
The conference marks a pivotal moment as it is the first Biodiversity COP since the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework at COP 15 in December 2022. As governments gather, they will review the implementation status of this framework and align their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) accordingly. Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention of Biological Diversity, expressed her enthusiasm for collaborating with Colombia, emphasizing that the outcomes of COP 16 must accelerate biodiversity actions globally.
Image Source: Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16)
Addressing Key Biodiversity Challenges
COP 16 will encompass various critical meetings, including the Eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and the Fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources. The agenda will feature a high-level ministerial segment aimed at fostering collaboration and commitment among countries.
One of the key objectives of this conference is to finalize and operationalize a multilateral mechanism for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources. As nations come together in Cali, the hope is that they will not only address the challenges posed by biodiversity loss but also strengthen global cooperation and resource mobilization in support of the Global Biodiversity Framework. The outcomes of COP 16 will play a crucial role in shaping the future of biodiversity governance and conservation efforts worldwide.
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