The recently concluded COP16 talks in Colombia ended in a state of confusion, yet they also paved the way for significant advancements in global conservation efforts. The discussions resulted in agreements requiring companies to share benefits derived from genetic resources found in nature. Additionally, steps were taken to ensure Indigenous peoples and local communities hold a stronger voice in conservation matters. However, the road to consensus was not without contention, particularly surrounding financial commitments.
Following the Colombian talks, delegates reconvened for the Cali discussions. The event saw notable participation from Linda Krueger of The Nature Conservancy and Georgina Chandler of the Zoological Society London. The main focus was on how to implement the Global Biodiversity Framework effectively. Yet, financial issues remained a sticking point. The overarching financial goal is to secure $20 billion annually by 2025, increasing to $30 billion by 2030. However, as of November, only $383 million had been pledged from a dozen countries.
“Cali was supposed to focus on the ‘how’ – putting the plans and the financing in place to ensure we can actually implement this framework.”
— Georgina Chandler
Countries such as Austria, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, the Province of Québec, Spain, and the United Kingdom have committed funds. However, the upcoming talks in Rome are set to address how these funds will be allocated and strategies for raising additional resources to safeguard plant and animal life globally.
“It’s really about how do we collect the money and how do we get it distributed fairly, get it to the ground where it’s needed most so that that’s really the core issue,”
— Linda Krueger
The urgency of these talks is underscored by a recent report from the World Wildlife Fund and the Zoological Society of London, which highlights a staggering 73 percent decline in global wildlife populations over the past five decades. The COP15 accord in Montreal introduced 23 measures aimed at preserving biodiversity, including the Global Biodiversity Framework which seeks to place 30 percent of both the planet and degraded ecosystems under protection by 2030.
“Biodiversity is basically essential to our livelihoods and well-being,”
— Georgina Chandler
“It’s essential to the air we breathe, the water we drink, rainfall that food systems rely on, protecting us from increasing temperatures and increasing storm occurrences as well.”
— Georgina Chandler
The Rome discussions are crucial as they resume the work left unfinished from last year's United Nations conference on biodiversity. Susana Muhamad, Colombia's former environment minister and COP16 president, expressed optimism for positive outcomes from Rome. However, Oscar Soria of The Common Initiative expressed skepticism about securing additional funds.
“We are completely off track in terms of achieving that money,”
— Oscar Soria
“What was supposed to be a good Colombian telenovela in which people will actually bring the right resources, and the happy ending of bringing their money, could actually end up being a tragic Italian opera, where no one actually agrees to anything and everyone loses,”
— Oscar Soria
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