Painted wall in Cali, Colombia

SNAP Canada

COP 16: MAKING PEACE WITH NATURE 

REFLECTIONS AND NEXT STEPS FOR NATURE

COP 16 signaled that momentum for action to save nature is growing, with more sectors of society stepping up to tackle the dire climate and biodiversity crises currently threatening the well-being of people and planet.

COP 16 in Cali, Colombia was the biggest Biodiversity COP ever, with over 23,000 delegates, more Indigenous Peoples, more representatives from the business and finance sectors, and more subnational governments participating than ever before. This is a hopeful sign that society, as a whole, is recognizing the critical importance of healthy nature and the need for urgent action across governments and society to effectively tackle the biodiversity and climate crises.  

As the first Conference of the Parties since the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) was adopted in Montreal two years ago at COP 15, the formal part of this meeting was largely focused on its implementation. Country negotiators worked hard for almost two weeks, plowing through a weighty agenda of 25 decisions. Kudos are due to the team of Canadian negotiators who played a constructive and positive role, particularly as champions of Indigenous Peoples’ rights and participation in the Convention. The team helped to land a number of positive decisions including to enhance Indigenous Peoples’ participation in the Convention on Biological Diversity, and an agreed-upon process to identify ecological and biologically significant areas in the ocean, which is an important step towards establishing marine protected areas on the high seas. 

However, much work remains, including the all-important step of adequately financing delivery of commitments made in the GBF. Two key items on the COP 16 agenda were not completed – decisions on mobilizing resources to implement the GBF, and on a monitoring framework to track progress towards its goals and targets. While worrying, COP 16 will re-convene in February 2025 to continue, and hopefully complete, this important work. 

As a nation with vast land and one of the largest ocean territories in the world to protect, Canada has demonstrated strong leadership in biodiversity conservation by helping to land the ambitious global deal to save nature in 2022, and developing a national strategy to implement these commitments, including to protect at least 30 per cent of land and ocean by 2030 (30×30). To continue this leadership the federal government needs to make sure it provides adequate resources to fully implement the new Canadian strategy, including by renewing its investments to deliver on its 30×30 promise in Budget 2025. It also needs to pass and implement a strong Nature Accountability Act, to incorporate these global commitments into Canadian law. 

COP 16 HIGHLIGHTS – beyond the formal negotiations  

Outside the formal negotiations, there was a high level of positive energy as thousands of delegates discussed actions needed to deliver on their shared goal of valuing and saving nature. 

CPAWS organized several successful side events and receptions at COP 16 which were described in our previous blog.

Indigenous-led conservation was front and centre

In addition to a positive decision on enhancing Indigenous Peoples’ participation in the Convention on Biological Diversity, there were many events highlighting the important role of Indigenous Peoples in conserving and stewarding biodiversity, globally and in Canada. 

These included events about the Indigenous Guardian network that is growing across Canada, and the Indigenous-led Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) projects announced at COP 15 by the Prime Minister, along with an $800M investment in their completion. These hopeful stories of pathways to a better future were of great interest to delegates from around the world. 

Sub-national government leadership was prominent

Quebec stepped up as a leader at COP 16, hosting Place Quebec – a big inclusive space for events and conversation – as well as organizing and participating in many events showcasing the important role of subnational governments in delivering on national biodiversity commitments.  Just before COP 16, the Quebec government launched a comprehensive nature action plan (Plan Nature) with confirmed funding.  At COP 16, they also announced a $2M contribution to the Kunming-Montreal Biodiversity Fund, becoming the first subnational government to contribute to the fund. 

With California, Quebec also organized an event to present the new subnational government task force they are leading as part of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People. The task force aims to provide a space for provincial, territorial, state, municipal and other subnational governments committed to the 30×30 target to support each other in delivering on their shared goal. Given their commitment to 30×30, we are hoping that British Columbia and Manitoba will soon join this enthusiastic and growing group of subnational government leaders.  

High Ambition Coalition Subnational Government Event (led by QC and CA)

Inside the negotiation rooms at COP 16

Sabine Jessen, Senior Strategic Advisor, CPAWS National Ocean Program, and Alison Woodley, Senior Strategic Advisor, National Conservation Program at COP 16.

Finance and business participation

Financing biodiversity conservation has long been a challenge. COP 16 was hopefully a turning point with over 1,000 delegates from the business and finance sectors engaging in dialogues on how to shift economic models to better value nature and resource its conservation.  

CPAWS delegates attended several sessions, including the World Biodiversity Summit, where discussions included how to better recognize the value of nature in financial decisions, and how to reform government subsidies that are causing harm to nature, so they support nature-positive activities. 

Cali embraced the COP

Outside the conference centre itself, COP 16 also took centre stage throughout the city.  The COP 16 logo was everywhere. There was a vast “Green Zone” in the downtown area filled with booths, artisans, educational and cultural events. Open to the public, this festive space was packed from morning until late at night, with citizens of Cali joining conference delegates to celebrate and learn about biodiversity. 

Three-dimensional logo representation in the Green Zone.

Show installation in the Green Zone.

Biodiversity Jenga sculpture at COP 16

The Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) adopted two years ago in Montreal mandates that saving nature must be everyone’s business, not just the responsibility of conservationists and national governments, and that it will require a large-scale transformation of our economic and decision-making systems.  While much work remains, having such broad representation at COP 16 in Colombia was a hopeful step towards this goal. 

Stay informed on progress on conservation in Canada by following CPAWS’s channels.  

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Banner on a wall representing the COP16 in Colombia.

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