The world’s largest biodiversity summit, COP16, wrapped up in Colombia with groundbreaking decisions on conservation and genetic data access. Known officially as the 16th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, this year’s summit achieved significant milestones. These include recognizing Indigenous Peoples and African descent communities as central to biodiversity preservation. COP16 saw robust debates. The event featured 170 delegations in Cali over 12 days. It underlined the Convention’s key goal: a sustainable future for global biodiversity.
A THREE-DECADE JOURNEY TO RECOGNITION
Camila Paz Romero, Indigenous Peoples’ spokesperson at COP16, described the moment as unprecedented. For Indigenous and African descent communities, the road to inclusion in biodiversity discussions spanned three decades. This journey reached a historic juncture in Cali, where these groups were recognized as essential partners in global conservation efforts.
“The long road we’ve travelled toward this agreement represents more than just our voices,” said Romero. “It symbolizes generations of knowledge and commitment to protecting life and biodiversity.”
THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY’S MISSION
The UN Convention on Biological Diversity was adopted in 1992 by 196 countries. Since then, it has pushed nations to implement measures ensuring a sustainable future. This year, COP16 closed with a milestone agreement. The agreement highlights Indigenous Peoples and African descent communities as key players in biodiversity protection. Furthermore, the summit decided to establish a subsidiary body under Article 8J, dedicated to Indigenous participation in decision-making processes.
STRENGTHENING INDIGENOUS VOICES IN DECISION-MAKING
The newly created subsidiary body, under Article 8J, will secure a permanent space for Indigenous Peoples and African descent communities. It will provide opportunities to engage in biodiversity policymaking. Camila Paz Romero noted that the body represents a global benchmark. It enables Indigenous knowledge, innovations, and practices to guide conservation efforts.
“This body’s creation sets an example worldwide, ensuring that our communities can influence biodiversity outcomes,” Romero stated.
ADVANCING DIALOGUE FOR NATURE PROTECTION
This new body facilitates dialogue between governments and Indigenous Peoples on effective strategies for conservation. COP16’s structure also includes two other advisory bodies. One is dedicated to scientific and technological assessments of biodiversity. The other focuses on the technical execution of the Convention’s goals. Together, these bodies help create a cohesive framework for addressing biodiversity concerns on a global scale.
A GLOBAL FIRST FOR NATURE’S GENETIC DATA
Another landmark decision from COP16 was the creation of a fund supporting equitable access to nature’s genetic data. This global fund, called the Cali Fund, will collect economic resources from companies using digital genetic information. Companies developing products from this data must now share part of their profits with Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
The revenue generated through this fund will be allocated based on factors like biodiversity richness and conservation needs. The goal is to guarantee fair benefit-sharing from nature’s genetic resources. This initiative aims to promote conservation through fair financial support.
TWO KEY ISSUES REMAIN UNRESOLVED
Despite significant progress, two critical issues were left unresolved. These pertain to implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Framework for Biodiversity, which aims to halt biodiversity loss by 2030. The first unresolved issue involves funding the ambitious framework, projected to need $700 billion. The second issue is a lack of a monitoring mechanism for tracking countries’ biodiversity commitments. Negotiations on both topics were suspended as the summit concluded without enough delegates to finalize agreements.
COP16’S GREEN ZONE: A PLATFORM FOR CIVIL SOCIETY
On the sidelines of COP16, Colombia’s Ministry of Environment established a “green zone” for civil society. This space attracted an estimated one million visits and hosted activities attended by around 40,000 people. Colombia’s Environment Minister Susana Muhamad described it as “the people’s COP,” with extensive public engagement and educational initiatives promoting biodiversity.
“The peace with nature coalition launched here is perhaps Colombia’s most significant biodiversity education campaign,” Muhamad said. She emphasized the momentum generated by public interest, calling it a historic moment for biodiversity awareness.
