2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference Has Started | CBCGDF Delegation Has Arrived in Colombia

 Following Sunday’s ceremony, opening and regional statements marked the beginning of the official proceedings of the UN Biodiversity Conference, including the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the 11th Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CP MOP 11), and the fifth Meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol (NP MOP 5) on access and benefit-sharing (ABS). Two Working Groups met in the afternoon, to review draft decisions, and establish multiple contact and informal groups. Four contact groups met in the evening to address draft decisions on: Article 8(j) and related provisions on Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs) and traditional knowledge; digital sequence information (DSI) on genetic resources; biodiversity and health; and biodiversity mainstreaming.

 

The delegation from the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) has arrived in Colombia to attend the meeting.

 

Plenary

The meeting opened with a spiritual welcome by the Misak Indigenous People of Cauca, Colombia. COP 15 President Huang Runqiu, Minister of Ecology and Environment, China, stressed that the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) is a major milestone for biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. He called for solidarity and feasible actions backed by innovative financial resources.

 

Susana Muhamad, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Colombia, was elected COP 16 and CP MOP 11 President, with Nneka Nicholas, Antigua and Barbuda, elected NP MOP 5 President.

 

CBD Executive Secretary Astrid Schomaker said COP 16 is the largest to date, a sign of increased understanding of the biodiversity crisis. She urged courage and compromise to step up action for nature, concluding that “peace with nature cannot be put in brackets.”

 

COP 16 President Muhamad stressed that the GBF is not “a standard environmental policy,” but a “revolution of how we live on this planet,” requiring a of whole-of-government and -society approach. She emphasized the value of multilateralism, negotiation, and mutual understanding, urging delegates to build trust through frank discussions and find landing zones in controversial agenda items. She highlighted deliberations on Article 8(j), DSI, resource mobilization, and the monitoring framework, stressing that “Cali 2024 could be a light in the very dark world that is unfolding.”

 

Statements: Senegal, for the AFRICAN GROUP, said that the submission of national targets from 41 African parties portrays the region’s commitment to CBD and GBF implementation. They underscored the need to: increase biodiversity-related funding; establish a specific fund to support implementation; reach a solid, binding agreement on the multilateral benefit-sharing mechanism from DSI use; and facilitate capacity building and technology transfer.

 

Cambodia, for ASIA-PACIFIC, highlighted the importance of: capacity-development programmes at all levels for GBF implementation; resource mobilization, including the need for timely access to funding; a balanced decision on DSI; and synergies, including among the Rio Conventions.

 

Jamaica, for the LATIN AMERICAN AND CARIBBEAN GROUP (GRULAC), highlighted: sufficient, timely, and adequate resource mobilization; the DSI mechanism; the mechanisms for planning, monitoring, reporting, and review; and the central role of IPLCs.

 

Hungary, for the EU, called for adopting: a process for the global review of collective progress of GBF implementation; the revised resource mobilization strategy; the operational modalities of the DSI mechanism; and a solid new work programme on Article 8(j).

 

Switzerland, also for Australia, Canada, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Republic of Korea, and UK (JUSCANZ), prioritized finalizing the monitoring framework and the global review of collective progress, as well as improving means of implementation, operationalizing the DSI mechanism, advancing work on marine and coastal biodiversity, and promoting IPLCs’ full and effective participation.

 

Maldives, for SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES (SIDS), urged parties to recognize the special circumstances of SIDS and make available adequate, predictable, and timely funding to implement the GBF successfully, and resolve outstanding issues on marine and coastal biodiversity. Brazil, for the LIKE-MINDED MEGADIVERSE COUNTRIES, underlined the gap between GBF Target 19 (resource mobilization) and reality. On the DSI mechanism, they stressed the need to create a fund under the authority of COP, not undermine national ABS systems, and ensure IPLCs’ rights. Drawing attention to the Middle East Green Initiative, Saudi Arabia, for the LEAGUE OF ARAB STATES, noted that several countries had submitted their national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs) and emphasized technology transfer, international cooperation, and resource mobilization as essential for GBF implementation, particularly for countries suffering conflicts and resource scarcity.

 

The INTERNATIONAL INDIGENOUS FORUM ON BIODIVERSITY (IIFB) called for: establishing a subsidiary body on Article 8(j); direct and equitable access to financial resources for IPLCs; and including IPLCs in DSI governance. CBD WOMEN’S CAUCUS called for full participation of women in the COP, and urged implementing the Gender Plan of Action, and gender-sensitive indicators and support. The CBD ALLIANCE cautioned against false solutions that harm biodiversity and peoples; and called for reaffirming the CBD moratorium on geoengineering and applying the precautionary principle.

 

LOCAL AND SUBNATIONAL GOVERNMENTS highlighted local and subnational biodiversity strategies and action plans as key to GBF implementation. BUSINESS FOR NATURE COALITION underscored that voluntary action is insufficient, and urged reforming harmful subsidies and increasing positive incentives. The INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE called for legal certainty related to the DSI mechanism.

 

ACADEMIA AND RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS reiterated their commitment to support GBF implementation by advancing scientific evidence to address the interconnected drivers of biodiversity loss. THE GLOBAL YOUTH BIODIVERSITY NETWORK called on parties to uplift IPLCs, women, and youth, support environmental defenders, and transform the financial system.

 

Original Chinese Article: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/rUjxtcpVTg4-EOy6kmychQ

Translator: Maggie

Editor: Maggie

Checked by: Richard     

Contact: v10@cbcgdf.org; +8617319454776

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