convention on biological diversity - cop16 - Cali, Columbia

By Michelle Sheather, Australian Greens International Development Coordinator and Secretary of the Global Greens Biodiversity Working Group

 

The 16th United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16) concluded in Cali, Colombia, on November 2, 2024.

Convened during the escalating ecological crises, COP16 sought to solidify the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) from 2022, setting an ambitious agenda for 2030. 

The Global Greens entered the conference with clear demands:

1. That the parties accelerate action on National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs),
2. To secure reliable financing for biodiversity,
3. Ensure equitable benefit-sharing from genetic resources,
4. Mainstream human rights into biodiversity governance, and
5. Integrate biodiversity goals with climate action.

These demands emphasised urgency, fairness, and accountability as critical to addressing the polycrisis of biodiversity loss and climate change.

Our delegation consisted of Green Party colleagues from the Americas Federation - Canada, Colombia, Mexico, Guatemala, Venezuela, and Paraguay, as well as myself coordinating the team.

Green MPs were on government delegations from Colombia, Sweden, Germany and Austria.

Alianza Verde, the Colombian Green Party, which is part of the government in Colombia, held a one day Forum called ‘Green Parties of the World Unite’ to coincide with COP16.

We also held a public event  in the ‘green zone’, the civil society and public area in the town centre as the non-government hub. The entire city and community got behind the COP as did the Colombian Presidency.

It was noted that it is the first time a COP has been held for some years in a mega diverse country instead of a fossil fuel country (as is the current Climate COP 29). It makes a difference!

There are 7 Amazonia countries and Green Parties are in 5 of them. We announced the Amazon Greens will be working together going forward to protect the Amazon which is currently estimated to be at a critical juncture with 17% destroyed and the tipping point estimated at 20-25%. We are close!

The big breakthrough two years ago is that 196 countries who are signatory to the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) had agreed to National Action Plans (NBSAP) which need to encompass:

• 30% of the country’s land to be protected areas
• 30% of the country’s marine area to be protected
• 30% of degraded land to be restored (in the UN decade of Land Restoration)
• To reduce pollution to levels that are not harmful to biodiversity by half by 2030 and to reduce excess nutrients by half from pesticides and hazardous materials
• To reduce and eliminate plastic pollution.

Today globally, only 16% of all land and 8% of all oceans are 'protected'.

Universally, the key drivers of Biodiversity loss globally are recognised as:

• Agriculture – especially monocultures and industrial agriculture;
• Logging and deforestation – 80% of which is unregulated;
• Extractive industries – mining and pollution from mining industries, and overfishing.

Since the 1970s there has been a 73% decline in wildlife.  It is worthwhile to note that 71% of the agricultural land is used for grazing and a further 11% for crops for animal food - 82% in total, and 40% of food grown is wasted.

There was a huge call for cross-sectoral policies – between government departments (especially water, agriculture, and environment), local government, Indigenous peoples and local communities, and civil society. A whole society approach was recognised in the Convention from the ground up.

Exciting outcomes out of cop16

Indigenous People’s Subsidiary Body

One of the most celebrated outcomes of COP16 was the establishment of a permanent Indigenous Peoples’ advisory body, a historic step recognizing the essential role of Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities in biodiversity conservation.

This decision formalised their participation in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and acknowledged their stewardship of ecosystems through traditional knowledge and practices. The body also includes recognition of people of African descent and local communities, further broadening the inclusivity of the framework. 

This milestone drew a standing ovation, underscoring its significance as a victory for equitable governance. Indigenous and local leaders will now contribute directly to CBD processes, ensuring their perspectives shape biodiversity policies and that their territories are respected.

Ocean Conservation

Another critical achievement was the progress on ocean conservation. Governments agreed to standardise the identification of ecologically significant marine areas and in international waters, creating a universal framework to protect vital ocean ecosystems. This aligns with the 2030 goal to protect 30% of the world’s oceans.

Genetic Resources

COP16 took significant steps toward equity in resources. A landmark agreement was reached requiring companies—particularly in sectors like pharmaceuticals and agribusiness—to share the benefits derived from genetic resources. This principle of “benefit-sharing” mandates that corporations profiting from natural genetic materials contribute financially to biodiversity conservation. 

financing - how much and where?

At COP15 in 2022 a goal of US$20 billion by 2025 was set as a commitment to be pledged annually especially for work in developing countries. Shifting harmful agricultural subsidies across all countries is a key outcome to halt further immediate biodiversity loss.

Finance mechanisms are still under discussion and not likely to be resolved until early 2025. Mega diverse countries are calling for a Cali Fund which has more accessible financing and is not managed by World Bank Institutions or the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

This issue stalled the talks after a marathon all night session, when quorum could no longer be reached and a special session is to be held online most likely in early 2025 to address this further.

There is US$22 billion in subsidies that encourage overfishing and US$635 million in farming subsidies that drive nature loss.

Nature based solutions such as preserving old growth and native forest is also seen as a minimal step forward as the Australian Greens are at the time of writing asking our government to halt logging of native forest as a minimal requirement to preserve our globally unique Ecosystems. The Australian Government’s submitted National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plan (NBSAP) has a long way to go and was given a weak rating by WWF.

Recognising the deep interconnections between biodiversity and climate change, COP16 sought to integrate nature-based solutions into broader environmental governance, calling for stronger links between biodiversity action and climate policies and targets.

We also called for the need for coordination across the three Rio Conventions from 1992 —the CBD, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). 

The urgency of biodiversity protection cannot be overstated; with ecosystems under increasing strain from climate change and human activities, and the carbon sinks collapsing, which throws out any Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG) emission targets, the stakes are higher than ever.

COP16’s achievements and shortcomings serve as both a roadmap and a call to action that protecting biodiversity is not just an environmental issue or a health issue - it is fundamental to sustaining life on Earth.
 

“Over the last weeks, we have seen the largest, whole-of-society mobilization for biodiversity unfold in Cali, triggering interest from around the globe. We have seen Indigenous Peoples and local communities, civil society, businesses and financial institutions, sub-national governments, cities and local authorities, women and youth present remarkable initiatives and action. 

And through it all, this COP delivered a seminal message: the time has come to make peace with nature."

- Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention of Biological Diversity