Posted on November, 06 2024

Governments of 196 countries have been meeting at the UN COP16 biodiversity conference in Cali, Colombia, for two weeks.

This is the first time they have come together to evaluate whether enough progress has been made on the historic agreement − the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity FrameworK (KMGBF) − to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030 since its adoption almost two years ago.  

WWF welcomes progress at COP16 − the latest meeting of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) − but cautions that postponing challenging decisions may hinder full KMGBF implementation.

While governments agreed to establish a new global fund (the ‘Cali Fund’) dedicated to sharing the benefits derived from using digital sequence information (DSI) from genetic resources, discussions around the establishment of a new wider biodiversity fund, as well as other key decisions, were postponed despite marathon final negotiations.

This outcome risks undermining confidence in and the implementation of the KMGBF.

Important step forward

The decision on the ‘Cali Fund’ states that companies using DSI from genetic biodiversity resources in their products should pay a portion of their profits or revenues into the fund.

While details on how the fund will be spent are still being finalized, it has been agreed that 50% of the fund will be allocated to Indigenous Peoples and local communities, either directly or through governments.

This will enable these communities, including women and youth, to finally share in the profits.

Kirsten Schuijt, Director General, WWF International, said: “The new ‘Cali Fund,’ although imperfect and with many details still to be ironed out, is an important step forward. It ensures that companies profiting from nature contribute fairly to biodiversity conservation and directs critical funding to the people and places that need it most.”

Negotiations suspended

While progress was made with the ‘Cali Fund’, negotiations on some other vitally important issues were, regrettably, not concluded before the conference was suspended.

This included the establishment of a wider biodiversity fund for development. Also inconclusive were negotiations about monitoring progress on implementing the KMGBF despite discussions taking place throughout the two weeks of the conference.

These had focused on filling gaps in the monitoring framework and on the procedures for a global review process (“stocktake”) in 2026 and 2030, which would help to hold countries accountable.

Commenting on the suspension of the meeting, Kirsten Schuijt said: “Despite Colombia’s valiant efforts and the tireless work of many negotiators to find consensus and build bridges between countries, this outcome jeopardizes the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

"Nobody should be okay with this – because it will impact us all. Delivering the mission to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030 was never going to be easy, but we’re now veering dangerously off track.” 

Finance delays

Developed countries are lagging behind on their commitments to provide US$20 billion annually in international biodiversity financing by 2025.

Pledges to the interim funding mechanism, the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF), in Cali were also meagre, with the fund currently totalling US$407 million.

And actions around identifying and repurposing subsidies harmful to nature have made little headway since the KMGBF was adopted.

“Following the negotiations on biodiversity finance here in Cali was as enjoyable as root canal surgery,” said Bernadette Fischler Hooper, Head of International Advocacy, WWF-UK.

“The discord between donor and developing countries shortly before the meeting suspension is sadly not surprising, but certainly disappointing.

"Countries have been divided for years and have not managed to find a solution that works for all. However, waiting longer to take the badly needed decision on the fund dedicated to the CBD threatens the delivery of 2030 nature goals.”

Welcome progress

Sandra Valenzuela, CEO of WWF-Colombia, said: “The adoption of the Article 8(j) work programme and the Subsidiary Body is a momentous decision to guarantee the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in the work undertaken under the Convention on Biological Diversity.

"The recognition of the Afro-descendant people embodying traditional lifestyles in conserving biodiversity is essential for the implementation of the Convention. It is a step forward to achieve peace for nature.”

There was notable progress in other areas too.

This included the mainstreaming of biodiversity across key sectors, with a new government-led Mainstreaming Champions Group launched with the support of 18 countries (and growing).

The adoption of an action plan on biodiversity and health, and of the procedures for describing Ecologically Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) in the oceans, were also key developments, the latter representing a significant step toward achieving the target of conserving 30% of ocean areas by 2030.

COP16 also saw unprecedented participation from the public, including in the CBD’s first Green Zone in Cali.

“One of Colombia’s main goals was to bring together diverse community voices from around the world, to ensure their voices were heard at COP16,” said Dr. Lin Li, Senior Director for Global Policy and Advocacy at WWF International.

“After many years of attending these summits, for the first time, this truly has been a ‘People’s COP’ – with increased participation of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, Afro-descendants, women and youth, all raising their concerns for Mother Earth.

"Their voices must be heard by the decision makers in the negotiation rooms, in government offices and in the boardrooms of businesses depleting nature, and their requests incorporated into decisions being made.”

By the end of COP16, 44 revised National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) in support of the KMGBF were submitted and 119 governments submitted revised National Targets, representing around 63% of countries.

This is a welcome uptick from before the conference when less than half of countries had published plans or targets. 

Progress was also made in integrating nature and climate efforts.

With the UN COP29 climate conference just weeks away, WWF welcomes the commitment at COP16 to strengthen alignment of national biodiversity and climate plans, and to explore stronger collaboration between the climate and biodiversity conventions, as well as better tracking of funding sources to avoid double counting of nature and climate finance.

See more
Nature action plans - check how your country is doing
NBSAPs we need - WWF's criteria for ambitious NBSAPs