The CPAWS COP 16 delegation shares their thoughts on the energy, lessons, and powerful moments coming out of #NatureCOP
In these times of uncertainty, we want to share some uplifting content with you sent to us by our staff on the ground at COP 16. We hope after reading it, you’ll feel some inspiration knowing your support has enabled CPAWS to join Canada and 195 other countries who have come together to save nature.
From CPAWS National…
COP 16 brings a spirit of hope to the challenge of saving life on earth
At COP 16 countries have been negotiating a variety of topics to advance implementation of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. But COP 16 is much more than negotiating rooms. It’s also an inspiring gathering of thousands of passionate people working to safeguard life on earth. NGOs like CPAWS, government officials, Indigenous Peoples, academics, and private sector representatives are sharing ideas, best practices, reports and experiences through side events, in pavilions and over coffee under the hot sun. As COP 16 wraps up, there’s a spirit of hope and collaboration here in Cali – a sense that by working together, perhaps we can shift our relationship with nature, and halt and reverse the collapse of life on earth. At a time when the news about the state of the planet is dire, hope is needed more than ever before. I’m feeling energized in spite of the intense schedule.
REGIONAL UPDATES
From SNAP Quebec…
On October 24, SNAP Quebec organized its event “From Montreal to Cali: building bridges to bring about transformative change,” the only Quebec civil society event added to the official COP 16 programming.
Introduced notably by Susana Muhamad, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia and President of COP 16, Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Dr Lucas Alejandro Garibaldi, Co-Chair of the IPBES Transformative Change Assessment and Mauricio Mira Pontón, director of the Cali environmental authority, the event led to an inspiring dialogue on the measurement of wealth and possible alternatives to the GDP indicator to measure the progress and health of our companies.
The panelists included Arturo Escobar, anthropologist at the Universidad del Valle, Brian Czech, general director of the Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy, Eric Pineault, professor at the Institute of Environmental Sciences of UQAM and Alice de Swarte, strategic advisor at SNAP Quebec.
“We are proud that a seed of hope sown by civil society in Montreal in 2022 is now growing in Cali. Acting on the direct causes of biodiversity loss is essential, but it is no longer enough. We need to create more opportunities for dialogue on solutions to the indirect causes, and we are putting forward the idea that the next COPs should offer a whole day dedicated to transformative changes.”
Alain Branchaud, Executive Director of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Quebec Chapter
From Montreal to Cali: building bridges to bring about transformative change event, hosted by SNAP-QC
From CPAWS Northern and Southern Alberta…
CPAWS Northern Alberta and Southern Alberta hosted a cocktails and conservation reception inviting folks from Alberta, across Canada, and internationally to gather and discuss COP 16 learnings and build connections in Cali to carry the momentum of the event back home. The event was sold out, and spurred some exciting conversations about opportunities for a stronger Nature Strategy for Alberta.
CPAWS Northern and Southern Alberta chapters COP 16 reception
CPAWS also worked together to host a Panel discussion in the Blue Zone. The panel was an excellent opportunity to discuss subnational (provinces and territories) governments’ pivotal role in achieving the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) targets, with a particular focus on opportunities and challenges for reaching the 30×30 goal—protecting 30% of land and water by 2030 – in regions that are economically dependent on resource extraction. Speakers from CPAWS Southern Alberta, Manitoba, SNAP Quebec, and international representation from Wendy Elliot with WWF International, shared their experiences and vision for a way forward together.
“It’s so exciting to see the determination and commitment to halting and reversing biodiversity loss from state and Indigenous governments and NGOs from around the world. There is huge momentum behind this and it is fuelling my practice of hope for a future that is in tune with nature. Alberta has so many opportunities to make real change for nature. We will be soaking in all of these learnings and bringing them into our work at home.“
Kecia Kerr, Executive Director, CPAWS Northern Alberta
“It’s inspiring to feel the energy at COP 16 of all the momentum and possibility from governments, NGOs, businesses and civil society towards halting and reversing biodiversity loss. There are many lessons we can learn and adapt for Alberta to take meaningful action at home”
Katie Morrison, Executive Director, CPAWS Southern Alberta
From CPAWS Manitoba…
“It’s exciting to be here to learn how other countries that have 30×30 mandates are approaching the challenge and the experiences they are having as this helps to inform our work in Manitoba. We’re making many great connections with groups and people and the Colombians are great hosts. We’re sharing the global opportunity Manitoba presents for conservation, what needs to be done to achieve it, and inviting others to support Manitoba’s vision for protecting 30% of Manitoba by working with Indigenous communities.”
CPAWS IN THE NEWS
Sandra Schwartz, CPAWS’s National Executive Director, was featured in the Narwhal:
“Canada can be proud of our work to protect nature over the past several years and we acknowledge that there have been some momentous strides towards protecting at least 30 per cent of land, freshwater and ocean. However, we can no longer do business as usual when it comes to protecting Canada’s natural heritage. It is urgent that the provincial, territorial and federal governments must work together, while supporting the essential leadership of Indigenous governments, to halt and reverse the biodiversity crisis. Ongoing funding for this work will be critical and CPAWS is hopeful for clear signals from COP 16 that positive momentum on conservation in Canada will continue.”
Sandra Schwartz, CPAWS’s National Executive Director
Read the story: https://thenarwhal.ca/cop16-canada-conservation-progress/
Sabine Jessen, Senior Strategic Advisor, CPAWS National Ocean Program, and Alison Woodley, Senior Strategic Advisor, National Conservation Program at COP 16.
WE’LL BE BACK
Stay tuned for a final post-event blog, which we will publish in the coming weeks, featuring key takeaways and the next steps for nature, coming out of COP 16.
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