The world’s eyes will be on the European Union (EU) as the 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16) kicks off next week in Cali, Colombia. This pivotal summit, taking place from October 21st to November 1st, comes two years after a historic agreement at the last conference to protect 30% of nature by 2030, a target known as ’30×30′. The spotlight will be on how countries, particularly the EU, will translate this ambitious pledge into tangible action.
Following the landmark ’30×30′ goals, the primary focus of COP16 will be on concrete strategies to fulfill this commitment in the remaining six years. The stakes are high, with Earth’s wildlife populations declining dramatically in recent decades. Addressing this biodiversity crisis is intricately intertwined with tackling the climate crisis, highlighting the urgency for action.
While a global drive for action is gaining momentum, the reality is that the world has yet to meet a single target in the history of UN biodiversity agreements. As of this week, only 25 countries and the EU have submitted plans detailing how they will safeguard Earth’s beleaguered ecosystems, ahead of the COP16 deadline for 195 nations.
The ‘Kumming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework’ (GBF), adopted at the last UN biodiversity conference in Canada, aims to protect at least 30% of the world’s land and water and restore 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030. Described as the ‘Paris Agreement for nature’, the GBF also includes commitments to eliminate or repurpose $500 billion of environmentally-damaging subsidies, including those for fossil fuels, and mobilize $200 billion annually for conservation from public and private sources. Developed countries have pledged $20 billion per year by 2025, rising to $30 billion by 2030, to support developing countries in these efforts.
The GBF also recognizes the vital role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in safeguarding biodiversity. Their expertise and knowledge are crucial for effective conservation efforts. This sentiment is reflected in numerous calls within the Global Biodiversity Framework to recognize their rights, making COP16 a crucial opportunity to turn this into concrete policy.
Crystal Davis, global director of the World Resources Institute (WRI)’s Food, Land & Water programme, outlines key steps for success: securing land tenure for Indigenous communities, incorporating their voices and traditional knowledge into policy decisions, and increasing funding to empower them as stewards of their land.
The urgency for action is underscored by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which stresses that COP16 must pave the way for integrating nature into climate actions at future climate COPs. Environmental campaigners are looking to the EU to demonstrate leadership.
“No more empty promises without action – the newly elected EU leaders have to pass laws that protect vital ecosystems, guarantee clean water and provide healthy food,” says Špela Bandelj Ruiz, Greenpeace Central & Eastern Europe Biodiversity Campaigner. “During UN Biodiversity COP16, representatives of the European Commission will be in the spotlight. The whole world will be watching how they deliver on their existing global commitments, but also if they lead the way towards implementing the targets at home, accompanied by adequate funding.”