16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity
On October 21, 2024, the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16) opened in Cali, Colombia. Delegations from 196 countries (including representatives of Kazakhstan, as one of the Parties to the Convention) are participating in the summit, and the total number of registered participants exceeds 21,000, making COP16 the largest meeting in the history of this event. Over the next two weeks, government members, experts, activists and representatives of indigenous peoples will discuss global challenges in the field of nature protection. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on all countries to “make peace with nature” and focus on implementing existing plans to conserve the planet's ecosystems.
The main focus of the conference is on achieving the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Framework Agreement, adopted at COP15 in 2022. This agreement includes 23 objectives aimed at protecting biodiversity, including the goal of preserving 30% of the world's land and seas by 2030 and restoring 30% of degraded ecosystems. The importance of reducing harmful subsidies and the transition to sustainable use of natural resources is emphasized.
Colombia's Environment Minister Susana Muhamad and other participants attend the opening plenary session of the 16th UN Biodiversity Summit (COP16) in Yumbo, Colombia, October 21, 2024. © REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez REUTERS - Luisa Gonzalez
Against a backdrop of accelerating species extinction (comparable to the Cretaceous mass extinction of some 65 million years ago, with the only difference being that humans are now responsible for the loss of biodiversity), the Cali conference provides a unique opportunity to bring the global community together in the fight to preserve wildlife and a sustainable future for all forms of life on Earth. Participants are discussing various measures such as creating new nature reserves, reforming forestry and agriculture, and implementing more sustainable fishing and livestock practices. More nature is now being destroyed around the world than is being protected or restored, and the goal is to stop this trend.
The common theme and motto of the Conference of the Parties on the logo is “Peace with Nature”. The official hashtag is #ForNature.
The United Nations Conference on Biodiversity, also known as the World Nature Summit, is a meeting of countries participating in the UN Convention on Biodiversity. This Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was concluded in Rio in 1992.