16th Conference of Parties of UNCBD inaugurated

By Malini Shankar

Digital Discourse Foundation

Cali, Colombia 20.10.24.

The 16th Conference of Parties of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity was declared open today in Cali, Colombia this evening. Sombre, yet significant the delegates are determined to make a difference or achieve the colossal, yet ambitious targets that are so complex by 2030. That explains why COP 16 is of such critical value. COP 16

The Targets are not as simple as planting so many million trees even if land were to be made available. Benefit sharing mechanisms have to be legalised through a complex web of legislation encompassing many spheres of Human activity:

1.       Gender sensitive land rights,

2.       Gender sensitive food security and livelihood security and

3.       Biodiverse confirmative agro diversity,

4.       Climate Change Adaptation,

5.       Cleansing of the oceans without harm to near shore zoo diversity,  

6.       Climate Finance and Biodiversity financing

7.       Sustainable Farming

8.       Protection of 30% of the planet’s land and seas by 2030

9.       Reducing harmful subsidies, and

10.   Restoring degraded ecosystems.

23000 delegates from 196 countries will negotiate to operationalise the multilateral mechanism for fair and equitable sharing of benefits from us of Digital Sequence Information on genetic resources including a global fund. Delegates have significant work ahead of them. Countries are expected to demonstrate progress in the implementation of the historic Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).

 

They will negotiate to operationalize the multilateral mechanism (established by COP 15) for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of Digital Sequence Information on genetic resources (DSI), including a global fund. 

 

Negotiators are also expected to find common ground on how to mobilise additional resources for biodiversity protection and ensure they are delivered in timely fashion where they are most needed.

 

The focus will also be on recognizing and leveraging the contributions of indigenous peoples and local communities as custodians of biodiversity and key partners in its conservation, restoration, and sustainable use 

 

The stakes at COP 16 have never been higher. The discussions reflect the multifaceted challenges that our planet faces. More importantly, they underscore the urgent need for collective action. 

 

The question looming over the gathering is: Will the world be able to turn commitments into actionable change?

 The official plenaries begin tomorrow, Monday 21.10.24.

 

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