UN Biodiversity Conference in Cali to focus on implementation of new biodiversity targets

The Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16) will convene in Cali, Colombia on 21 October–1 November 2024. The main objective of COP16 is to agree on the implementation of the global biodiversity targets and the related monitoring. Finland’s delegation will be led by Minister of Climate and the Environment Kai Mykkänen.

New targets to halt and reverse biodiversity loss to put nature on a path to recovery by 2030 were adopted in Montreal two years ago (Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework). The targets include the conservation of at least 30 per cent of the world’s terrestrial and marine areas and restoration of at least 30 per cent of areas of degraded ecosystems by 2030. The Biodiversity Conference in Cali (COP16) seeks a common understanding of how the targets will be implemented and the progress towards them monitored.

“We are committed to halting biodiversity loss globally over the next five years. Increasing conservation areas alone is not enough. The key issue in terms of biodiversity is its sustainable use. Stronger contributions from the private sector to climate work are also needed. Solutions can be built on market terms, including by promoting ecological compensation and the creation of natural values markets,” Minister of Climate and the Environment Kai Mykkänen says.

The main goal of the Conference is to reach an agreement on the rulebook that contains the monitoring framework for the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. At the core of the monitoring framework there are about 45 indicators that track the progress made with respect to the four goals and 23 targets. Besides conservation and restoration, the targets concern e.g. increasing the level of financial resources for biodiversity, combating invasive alien species, reducing subsidies that are harmful for biodiversity, and use of nature-based solutions.

“To succeed in halting biodiversity loss, we need strong rules for the implementation. Systematic progress has been made in increasing the surface area under restoration, but the same will be needed for all targets. Transparent and comprehensive reporting will give us a clear picture of whether we are proceeding fast enough and in the right direction,” Chief Negotiator Marina von Weissenberg from the Ministry of the Environment says. 

Only 29 countries have submitted their updated biodiversity strategies

The most important instruments for the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity are the national biodiversity strategies and action plans. The review of the processes to update these strategies is one of the two key themes of the Conference. By mid-October, 29 countries had submitted their updated strategies and action plans to the CBD Secretariat. In addition, 90 countries had shared their national targets for information.

The political process to update Finland’s national strategy and action plan is still under way, but draft national targets have been submitted to the CBD Secretariat.

The draft contains 22 targets concerning the state of nature, pressures on biodiversity, societal root causes behind these pressures, Sámi people and biodiversity, and Finland as part of the international community. 

“The UN Biodiversity Conference has reached an understanding that, besides actual protected areas, more extensive protection will be needed to meet the 30 per cent conservation target. This year, the Finnish Ministry of the Environment has approved the first OECM areas, that is, sites covered by Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures. These areas will help maintain the ecosystem services offered by nature and reach long-term results for the benefit of natural values,” Minister Mykkänen says.

The Conference also aims to reach decisions on increasing the financing for nature, fair and equitable sharing of benefits from digital genetic sequence data, and updating the work programme concerning indigenous peoples.

Besides the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, meetings will be held in Cali on two protocols concluded under the Convention: the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization.

Links between biodiversity loss, climate change, health and peace on agenda

The agenda of COP16 includes discussions on streamlining the work to strengthen biodiversity in different sectors and links between climate change and biodiversity loss and biodiversity and health. Colombia also stresses the connections between biodiversity and peace and security. At the Conference, the ministers are to adopt the Peace with Nature initiative prepared under the lead of the Colombian Presidency.

Heads of state or government and ministers of about one hundred countries will attend the Conference. Besides the negotiations, the Conferences bring together growing numbers of cities, companies, scientists and NGOs to boost the efforts to find solutions to biodiversity loss. The Conference in Cali will be the largest Biodiversity Conference ever. About 14,000 participants will attend the negotiations and various of side events.

To follow the Conference in Cali and the work of Finland’s delegation on social media use #luontoCOP16.

Inquiries

Lyydia Ylönen
Special Adviser to Minister of Climate and the Environment Kai Mykkänen
tel. +358 50 476 1341
(in Cali 31 October–2 November, please note the time difference -8h)

Marina von Weissenberg
Chief Negotiator of CBD
tel. +358 50 307 0806
(in Cali 16 October–2 November, please note the time difference -8h)

Joona Lehtomäki
Senior Specialist
National biodiversity strategies
tel. +358 50 598 6162
(in Cali 28 October–2 November, please note the time difference -8h)

Riikka Lamminmäki
Director of Communications
tel. +358 50 576 2604
Requests for interviews with Minister Mykkänen and the negotiators during the Conference 
(in Cali 29 October–2 November, please note the time difference -8h)

The UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is the most important agreement in terms of safeguarding biodiversity. The objectives of the CBD are the protection of habitats, species and ecosystems, the sustainable use of natural resources, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources. Biodiversity is safeguarded by measures that enhance the value and state of natural ecosystems and species and their genetic resources. The Convention has been adopted by 196 parties and it entered into force in 1993. The United States is not a party to the Convention.