My Reflections from COP16 Colombia🌴(October 21 - November 1, 2024)

Why Colombia? That was the first thought that hit me when I heard that this year’s COP16 is happening in Santiago de Cali. I mean, come on—I do remember! How could I forget the giant statue of Jesus that pops up in so many films? And let’s not overlook the Serranía de Chiribiquete, that stunning UNESCO World Heritage site - VERY - mind - blowing !

So, I dove deep into inter-net and quickly I started to realize - why Colombia is known as a biodiversity paradise. It’s home to jaw-dropping wildlife like the Andean condor, gliding high above the mountains, and the secretive jaguar, lurking in the lush Amazonian forests. With over a thousand bird species—think colorful keel-billed toucans and the rare Santa Marta parakeet, which you can’t find anywhere else—and around 4,000 types of orchids (my grandmother’s absolute favorite!), including the national flower, Cattleya trianae, Colombia’s natural beauty is truly one-of-a-kind.

But it doesn’t stop there. More than half of Colombia is blanketed in forests, making it a key player in our planet’s future. These forests are alive with unique plants and animals and play a huge role in keeping our climate balanced. By hosting COP16, it’s reminding the world of its vital role in protecting biodiversity and why we must all work together to protect these incredible ecosystems. 

BACK TO THE STORY

The story of COP16 begins with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), established back in 1992 during the iconic Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. This was a pivotal moment in recognizing that protecting our planet's incredible biodiversity is essential for sustainable development. Fast forward to COP15 in December 2022, where the groundbreaking Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted. This framework set some serious goals, aiming to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, including ambitious targets like protecting 30% of our land and sea areas and reducing pollution.

At COP16, representatives from countries around the globe came together to assess what’s been accomplished since COP15 and to recommit to these important goals. This year theme was - Peace with Nature as it was chosen to reflect the idea that making peace with nature is the defining task of the 21st century.

What made COP16 super important? It was such a hub to build partnerships, to feel inspired and most importantly to take effective actions. Leaders, activists, and scientists came together to share incredible success stories, like Costa Rica’s groundbreaking Payment for Ecosystem Services program. This initiative rewards landowners for preserving their forests, leading to a remarkable increase in forest cover over the years. Then there’s Madagascar, where local communities are stepping up to protect their unique wildlife, including the critically endangered lemurs, proving that grassroots efforts can have a huge impact.

Delegates physically as well as online, exchanged their ideas and experiences, for an example, how they use drones for real-time monitoring of deforestation in the Amazon and mobile apps that allow everyday people to report illegal wildlife trafficking. I am repeating - partnerships flourished here, with collaborations like the one between the Global Environment Facility and the UN Development Programme, which is all about looping biodiversity into national development plans. 

Alright - SERIOUS - Key Takeaways. 

At COP16 in Cali, Colombia, delegates from nearly 200 countries engaged in critical discussions about biodiversity, the rich variety of life that sustains our ecosystems. However, as negotiations extended into the early hours of Saturday, many delegates from developing nations had to leave for flights, resulting in insufficient representation to make crucial decisions on important agenda items.

A significant outcome of the conference was the agreement to establish the “Cali Fund.” This new financial mechanism is designed to ensure fair benefit-sharing from genetic resources, which include valuable plants and animals used for medicine and agriculture. By compensating countries that provide these resources, the Cali Fund aims to promote equity and sustainable use of biodiversity.

COP16 marked a historic moment with the creation of a permanent advisory body for Indigenous peoples. This new entity will enable Indigenous representatives to share their unique knowledge and perspectives directly at future biodiversity conferences. This inclusion is crucial, as Indigenous communities often possess valuable insights into local ecosystems and conservation practices.

Despite some achievements, several key issues remain unresolved. The establishment of a new funding mechanism under the COP to support biodiversity initiatives and a framework for tracking progress on biodiversity loss will be discussed in future meetings. These topics are essential for ensuring that countries can effectively address the ongoing biodiversity crisis.

A major concern at COP16 was the slow progress on implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which was created at COP15 in 2022. A joint investigation revealed that most countries failed to submit their biodiversity action plans by the deadline, with only 44 out of 196 countries (about 22%) having done so. This shortfall raises significant concerns about global commitment to protecting biodiversity.

Some major economies expressed that they lacked the time to prepare their biodiversity plans, while developing countries reported not receiving sufficient funding to create new commitments. This highlights the disparity in resources and support available to different nations, underscoring the need for international cooperation to enable all countries to take meaningful action.

Looking forward, the unresolved issues from COP16 will be revisited at intersessional meetings scheduled for next year. These discussions are critical for nations to refine their strategies and strengthen their commitments to the Global Biodiversity Framework. The effectiveness of these future talks will be pivotal in determining how well the global community can work together to combat biodiversity loss and protect our planet’s invaluable ecosystems.