The COP16 Biodiversity Summit, held from October 21 to November 2, 2024, in Cali, Colombia, brought together representatives from governments and stakeholders around the world to discuss and take action on the ever-pressing crisis of biodiversity loss. With climate change looming over our ecosystems, this summit aimed to set ambitious targets and mobilize resources to protect our planet's biodiversity.
One of the key achievements at COP16 was the creation of the Permanent Subsidiary Body on Article 8j (SB8J), which formalizes decision-making power for Indigenous Peoples and local communities concerning biodiversity conservation. This advancement marks the culmination of years of stalled discussions initiated by Bolivia back in 2016. Recognized as instrumental guardians of biodiversity, Indigenous Peoples will now have a continuous and meaningful role in global biodiversity decisions.
Another significant progress made during the summit was acknowledging the contributions of people of African descent, particularly those adhering to traditional lifestyles, toward conserving biodiversity. This decision not only invites Parties to recognize their knowledge and connection to land but also encourages Nations to facilitate their participation, financial support, and include their contributions within national biodiversity frameworks.
Aligning biodiversity conservation with climate actions has also been discussed extensively. For the first time, there was significant recognition of the synergies between these issues, as experts noted the importance of ecosystems like forests, wetlands, and oceans acting as carbon sinks to mitigate greenhouse gases. Although these discussions were promising, some countries resisted explicit references to fossil fuels—one of the primary drivers of climate change.
Yet, amid these advancements, not everything went smoothly. The negotiations saw heated debates, especially concerning resource mobilization. Developing countries advocated for creating new dedicated biodiversity funds. Despite the urgency of the matter, wealthier nations, including the EU and UK, resisted this proposal, preferring to strengthen the existing Global Environment Facility.
Adding to the complications, discussions on recognizing Indigenous Territories under the ambitious Target 3 “30×30,” which aims to protect 30% of Earth for nature by 2030, were left unresolved. This absence left Indigenous groups and advocates alike disheartened, as they feel their contributions and rights were overlooked.
Illegal activities like logging and mining—recognized as significant drivers of biodiversity loss—were also sidelined during negotiations. This glaring oversight has environmental experts concerned about the lack of comprehensive approaches to tackle biodiversity and associated issues. Closing these gaps is seen as pivotal for future negotiations.
Within the backdrop of these negotiations, the Global Ecosystems Atlas was launched, promising to be one of the world's premier resources for mapping and monitoring ecosystems. The Atlas aims to integrate existing maps with new data consolidated through artificial intelligence and earth observation technology. High-profile endorsements, including from the UN Environment Programme, showcased the urgency and necessity of reliable data for global environmental agendas.
Norway announced its commitment to fund the Atlas with $2.5 million, emphasizing the collective need for reliable, open data to monitor and push the global biodiversity agenda forward. The collaborative nature of this initiative aims to provide all stakeholders, including marginalized communities and developing nations, access to useful, validated ecosystem data.
Despite these hopeful frameworks, critics argue the solutions proposed at COP16 fail to meet the needed scale for impactful changes to halt biodiversity loss. There remains significant concern over how commitments made will be implemented and enforced, and if they will provide tangible results for endangered ecosystems.
This year's summit also highlighted the need for financing measures, as experts noted the urgent requirement for at least $700 billion annually to revitalize global biodiversity. Observers noted insufficient response from wealthier nations and greater leadership was needed to address gaps created by unmet financial commitments.
Activists and representatives continue to stress the importance of Indigenous and local participation within the global biodiversity narrative, urging nations to uphold the rights of these communities to use traditional knowledge and practices.
Looking forward, COP30 is set to be held next year in Brazil, where delegates hope to develop meaningful action plans based on commitments—an opportunity for nations to reassess their positions and truly prioritize global biodiversity preservation.
Overall, COP16 ended on uncertain ground. While it launched important frameworks and acknowledged previously sidelined voices, it also faced backlash over unresolved issues and disappointment among developing nations over funding promises. The host country representatives underscored the importance of transitioning from discussions to practical implementations.
Given the dire state of global biodiversity, experts agree any delay could lead to irreversible damage. The upcoming meetings, including the pivotal COP30 meeting, will be closely watched to see if they can effectively translate discussions at COP16 to real action results.
