According to Colombia’s environment minister, the upcoming Cop16 summit will prioritize nature in global biodiversity discussions and play a crucial role in the international environmental agenda.

Colombia’s environment minister, Susana Muhamad, is anticipated to serve as the president of Cop16. She stated that her country will prioritize the inclusion of nature in the international environmental discussion leading up to Cop30 in the Brazilian Amazon in 2025. At this conference, participating countries will present their updated plans for meeting the goals of the Paris agreement.

According to Muhamad, while the climate has an impact on biodiversity, nature can serve as a solution to the climate crisis. Although it may not be the sole solution, it is a crucial factor and we aim to highlight its importance in preparation for Cop30 in Brazil.

“We must generate momentum, and the purpose of Cop16 is to prioritize nature in these discussions,” she stated. “Often, we tend to compartmentalize different aspects of the international environmental agenda… However, we must focus our efforts. For instance, protecting the Amazon is a concrete and effective step. Establishing multinational marine protected areas is another tangible action that has positive effects on both climate and biodiversity.”

Gustavo Petro, the president of Colombia, has designated Cali as the location for Cop16 in October. This will be the first summit focused on biodiversity since a significant agreement was reached at the UN in Montreal, Canada in late 2022 to address the widespread decline of biodiversity.

View image in fullscreen

Leaders of countries traveling to Cali, a city located approximately 50 miles from Colombia’s Pacific coast, are anticipated to unveil their respective strategies at the national level to achieve biodiversity objectives. These objectives involve pledges to safeguard 30% of both land and sea for the benefit of nature, as well as rehabilitate 30% of the Earth’s deteriorated ecosystems.

Muhamad plans to utilize the summit as an opportunity to advocate for greater acknowledgement and funding for countries with high levels of biodiversity, which harbor a significant portion of Earth’s species.

In 2024, the global focus will be on the crisis in the environment, with events such as Brazil’s G20 presidency under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, which will prioritize creating economic strategies to preserve the Amazon, and the climate conference Cop29 in Azerbaijan.

Colombia has emerged as a prominent advocate for the environment on an international level. During Cop28 in Dubai in the previous year, Petro, a left-wing leader, declared Colombia’s support for a treaty on non-proliferation of fossil fuels, making it the first major producer to do so. Petro stated that his country’s rich biodiversity would serve as the foundation for its economic prosperity during the shift towards sustainability.

David Cooper, the temporary secretary in charge of the UN convention on biological diversity, expressed that Colombia would be a motivating location for Cop16 and would provide valuable guidance on environmental issues. He emphasized the significance of Cop16 in achieving the current decade’s biodiversity goals, but also expressed concern over farmers’ demonstrations against environmental policies and their potential impact on countries’ future commitments.

He stated that safeguarding biodiversity and ecosystems are crucial for food and agriculture, but there is a lack of effort in maintaining a shared concern.

“We are facing significant obstacles. It is imperative for political leaders to take action.”

Find more age of extinction coverage here, and follow biodiversity reporters Phoebe Weston and Patrick Greenfield on X for all the latest news and features

Source: theguardian.com