Inside the UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP 16)
As the planet approaches a critical threshold of irreversible biodiversity loss, world leaders are convening in Cali, Colombia, on October 21 to advance the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
October 24, Cali - Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs), in their immense diversity, apply an array of traditional practices in environmental stewardship, and their knowledge-systems make valuable contributions to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
Afro-descendants came to the forefront of the day’s agenda, as the contact group on Article 8(j), dealing with issues related to IPLCs and traditional knowledge, addressed the proposal by Colombia and Brazil to recognize communities and people of African descent in the processes and implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). At the same time, in the neighboring tent, delegates joined the International Afro-descendant Forum.
“What time does the last bus leave?” queried delegates jokingly during the evening session of the Article 8(j) contact group. “Afro-descendants are often subject to racial discrimination, while their knowledge and practices are valuable for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use,” Latin American participants stressed, drawing attention to the work of the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, established in the human rights realm. Others were more skeptical. “Aren’t Afro-descendants already included in the Convention’s agreed-upon term, ‘local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use’?” a European delegate queried. Yet another participant commented that the issue highlights the complex interlinkages between abstract terms used at the international level and diverse national and local realities.
Want to dig deeper into today's talks? Read our Earth Negotiations Bulletin daily report.
The 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 16), the first since the adoption of the GBF, aims to push forward the landmark biodiversity plan to halt and reverse nature’s decline.
Amid high expectations for countries to deliver on the GBF commitments, the spotlight is on national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs). CBD parties are in the process of updating these critical plans to ensure they effectively reflect the goals and principles of the framework. This alignment is key to driving meaningful action in the fight against biodiversity loss.
Resource mobilization is also set to be a key focus, with the biodiversity funding mechanism and options for monitoring progress at the centre of discussions.
Furthermore, parties are expected to agree on how to operationalize a multilateral mechanism for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources, ensuring the well-being of those who protect them.
IISD will be on the ground, tracking negotiations and delivering daily reports on the key discussions and decisions driving global action on nature.
Need to Know: Key Things We Want to See at COP 16
IISD's Earth Negotiations Bulletin Reporting On-Site
For over 30 years, Earth Negotiations Bulletin has provided authoritative, in-depth reporting on United Nations negotiations involving the environment and development. Our reporters will be covering each day of the talks in Cali, explaining what's happening and what it means for climate action.
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Our COP 16 Experts
Anne Hammill
Associate Vice-President, Resilience
Lynn Wagner
Senior Director, Tracking Progress
Alec Crawford
Director, Nature for Resilience
Benjamin Simmons
Director, Sustainable Infrastructure
Aia Brnic
Communications Manager
Hans Baumgarten
Strategic Advisor
Liesbeth Casier
Lead, Public Procurement and Sustainable Infrastructure and Coordinator of the NBI Global Resource Centre
Calais Caswell
Policy Advisor II, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion
Becca Challis
Communications Officer
Veronica Lo
Senior Policy Advisor
Juliet Perry
Communications Manager
Paulina Resich
Senior Communications Manager
Valentina Romoli
Policy Advisor and Coordinator
Anika Terton
Senior Policy Advisor and Lead
Elsa Tsioumani (PhD)
Writer/Editor Earth Negotiations Bulletin
Farooq Ullah
Senior Policy Advisor and Lead, Energy and Climate Governance