Colombia is taking a bold step towards unifying global environmental efforts by proposing a combined climate and biodiversity pledge within the United Nations framework. As the host of the upcoming COP16 biodiversity summit later this month, Colombia aims to synchronize actions to protect nature and combat climate change, Colombian Environment Minister Susana Muhamad announced on Friday.
The United Nations currently operates three separate environmental conventions addressing climate change, biodiversity, and desertification. Developing countries often find the individual negotiations and pledges for each convention demanding and resource-intensive. Minister Muhamad emphasized that integrating these pledges into a unified plan could streamline processes and enhance synergies.
“If you are repeating the same thing for three conventions, I think we are wasting time and probably also losing the opportunity for synergies,” Muhamad stated. She highlighted that actions like halting deforestation hold dual benefits—preserving biodiversity and reducing emissions—especially significant for Latin American nations.
Colombia envisions launching this unified plan ahead of COP30, the UN climate summit to be held in Brazil in 2025. “We will send for the three conventions a synthesis plan that covers in an integral manner the three conventions because actually they are deeply interrelated,” Muhamad explained.
The idea of unified pledges gained traction during a meeting of Latin American environment ministers in Rio de Janeiro last month, where Panama introduced the concept, and it received strong support from other nations.
Further demonstrating its commitment, Colombia recently announced a $40 billion investment portfolio aimed at facilitating its transition away from fossil fuels while preserving nature. Additionally, the country is advocating for human rights to be central to environmental strategies and plans to launch a “Peace with Nature” coalition at COP16.
“We really think that taking care of nature, reconnecting to nature, and conserving together among different peoples is peace-building and also will make us more resilient to climate change shocks that will also create a broader context for conflict,” Muhamad said.
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COP16 host Colombia pushes for unified UN climate and nature pledges
cgtn.com
