From Geneva to Cali | International Geneva @ UN Biodiversity Conference

From Geneva to Cali | International Geneva @ UN Biodiversity Conference

Analysis:

1. COP16 Overview: The 2024 UN Biodiversity Conference (COP16) was held in Cali, Colombia, from 21 October to 2 November 2024 under the theme “Peace with Nature.”The conference included:
   • COP16 (16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD)
   • CP-MOP11 (11th meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as MOP to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety)
   • NP-MOP5 (5th meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as MOP to the Nagoya Protocol)
2. Key Outcomes:
   • Expanded role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in biodiversity decision-making via a subsidiary body under Article 8(j).
   • Adoption of decisions recognizing the role of people of African descent in CBD implementation.
   • Agreement on a new global mechanism to share benefits from digital genetic information.
   • Failure to establish a new wider biodiversity fund and approve the Convention budget for the next two years.
3. Participation and Significance:
   • Record participation with 23,000 pre-registered delegates, including six Heads of State, 130+ Ministers/Vice Ministers, and 70+ international organization leaders.
   • The conference emphasized multistakeholder participation, with Indigenous Peoples at the center stage, demonstrating that multilateralism can still achieve meaningful outcomes.
4. Resumed Sessions:
   • Due to loss of quorum on 2 November 2024, the session was suspended and later resumed from 25–27 February 2025 in Rome, Italy.
   • Focus areas for resumed sessions included: financial resource mobilization, monitoring and review mechanisms, cooperation with other conventions, and finalizing decisions from COP16, CP-MOP11, and NP-MOP5.
5. Thematic and Special Days:
   • Biodiversity and Health Day (24 Oct 2024): Highlighted links between biodiversity and human health.
   • Forest and Water Day (25 Oct 2024): Focused on sustainable forest and water ecosystem management.
   • Trade Day (26 Oct 2024): Discussed trade policies and practices to support biodiversity goals.
   • Business and Biodiversity Forum (27 Oct 2024): Explored the role of business in implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework.
   • Nature and Culture Summit (26–27 Oct 2024): Emphasized human-rights-based approaches and indigenous territories in conservation.
   • Finance and Biodiversity Day (28 Oct 2024): Focused on aligning financial flows with biodiversity objectives.
6. Next Conference:
   • Armenia has been decided to host COP17 in 2026.

Updated - 24 Feb 2025 ; 9: 54 PM | Geneva Environment Network