UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday called for substantial investments in a global fund dedicated to preserving Earth’s biodiversity. Addressing delegates via video at the opening ceremony of the UN Biodiversity Conference in Cali, Colombia, Guterres emphasized the critical need for financial support to safeguard nature.
“We must leave Cali with significant investment in the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) and commitments to mobilize other sources of public and private finance,” Guterres stressed. He highlighted that protecting biodiversity is essential to prevent conflicts, hunger, diseases, and economic downturns.
The GBFF, established last year, aims to assist countries in achieving the objectives of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). Adopted in 2022, the GBF outlines 23 targets to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. So far, about $250 million has been pledged to the fund, a fraction of the agreed goal.
“A collapse in nature’s services, such as pollination and clean water, would see the global economy lose trillions of dollars a year, with the poorest hardest hit,” Guterres warned. He urged nations to honor their financial commitments and accelerate support to developing countries.
Under the broader agreement made in Montreal, countries committed to mobilizing at least $200 billion per year by 2030 for biodiversity conservation. This includes a pledge from wealthier nations to contribute $20 billion per year by 2025 to assist developing countries.
“Those profiting from nature must contribute to its protection and restoration,” the UN chief added, underscoring the responsibility of all stakeholders in preserving the planet’s ecosystems.
The UN Biodiversity Conference, also known as COP16 to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), is hosting approximately 12,000 delegates from nearly 200 countries. The conference, running from October 21 to November 1, aims to advance global efforts in biodiversity conservation.
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UN chief seeks 'significant' funding at summit to save nature
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