On the evening of November 1, the 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16) concluded in Cali, Colombia. The conference marked a significant milestone by reaching three major agreements aimed at safeguarding global biodiversity.
Susana Muhamad, Colombia’s Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development and chair of the conference, announced the breakthroughs. “We have established the creation of a subsidiary body for Indigenous peoples of Africa and local communities,” she declared. “We recognize people of African descent as guardians of biodiversity under the Convention and have set a work plan for communities through 2030.”
The acknowledgment of Indigenous and local communities underscores their vital role in conserving biodiversity. By empowering these communities, the agreements aim to foster sustainable practices rooted in traditional knowledge.
Despite these historic strides, the conference highlighted a concerning shortfall in global funding. Over the past two weeks, contributions to the Global Biodiversity Fund have been insufficient to meet the billions of dollars required to combat the rapid decline of biodiversity worldwide. Currently, the fund has received only around $400 million in donations.
“The urgent need for financial commitment cannot be overstated,” Muhamad emphasized. “Without adequate funding, our efforts to reverse biodiversity loss are severely hindered.”
The gravity of the situation is reflected in the Living Planet report released in October by the World Wildlife Fund and the Zoological Society of London. The report reveals that global wildlife populations have declined by an average of 73 percent over the past 50 years.
COP16 spanned 12 days, featuring 600 academic events and bringing together 31,000 heads of state, officials, community representatives, and experts. The conference served as a platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and setting a unified course of action for the future.
As the world grapples with environmental challenges, the outcomes of COP16 represent both hope and a call to action. The agreements reached in Cali highlight the necessity of global cooperation and the empowerment of Indigenous and local communities in preserving our planet’s biodiversity for generations to come.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
