COP16: Implementing Biodiversity Frameworks and Funding Progress

COP 16 - The UN Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, which will take place in Cali, Colombia, October 21 - November 1, 2024, will bring public- and private-sector leaders together to disseminate the progress nations and organizations have made since 2022.

Introduction WSP at COP16 Insights Spotlight on Colombia FAQs

Supporting the commitment to global biodiversity

In December 2022, COP15 established bold commitments to conserve and restore nature, to advance sustainable finance, and to provide a framework for businesses to disclose impacts on nature. Most importantly, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) was adopted, setting crucial targets to protect ecosystems worldwide and reduce threats to biodiversity. Twenty-three of the GBF targets, including the ambitious 30x30 target which aims to protect 30% of the earth’s land and water, were set for 2030.

This year, at COP16, Indigenous communities will join governments, NGOs, academics, and business and financial institutions in Cali, Colombia to review the progress the world has made with GBF implementation.

COP16 theme: Peace with Nature

Colombia, host of COP16, is a nation of immense natural resources, spread across biodiverse regions including the Amazon rainforest. It’s a fitting spot for the international range of diverse stakeholders to share the concrete sustainability steps they are taking and disclose the actions arising from their nature commitments. Innovative funding models will stimulate green investment, biodiversity metrics will be shared and reviewed, and nations will submit updated National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans.

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Invest in nature

COP16 will explore successful financial mechanisms to mobilize resources for biodiversity conservation. Carbon credits, natural capital investment, green bonds and other original investment frameworks will provide implementation access for all nations by building capacity and the financial resources needed for the equitable distributions of nature-based solutions

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Access and benefit sharing

Another important aim of COP16 is to operationalize the methods for the access and benefit-sharing (ABS) of genetic resources. More than 140 Parties have signed the Nagoya Protocol declaring that genetic resources should be used to maximise benefits for users, providers, and the ecology and communities in which they are located.

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Global biodiversity framework implementation

COP16 participants will review the collective actions taken to implement the GBF’s targets and limit nature loss at the legislative and sectoral levels. Parties will demonstrate how their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) align with the GBF and assess the proposed implementation measures and strategies. Accountability mechanisms, including methods for monitoring, reporting, and reviewing evidence-based progress, will be shared

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Empowering businesses to lead in nature preservation

Businesses are increasingly aware of their essential role in safeguarding nature and biodiversity. By improving financial flows, business can join the global effort to eliminate habitat loss and restore endangered species by funding local and regional conservation projects. WSP is at the forefront of this global commitment, partnering with clients, engaging with decision-makers, and pioneering projects that enhance ecological resilience

WSP at COP16

Will you be at COP16? Join our experts on-site to explore innovative solutions for tackling the biodiversity crisis and securing a sustainable future for all.

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Spotlight on Colombia

COP16 will be held in Colombia, a country that hosts 10% of the world’s biodiversity and ranks as the second most biodiverse in Latin America. Despite its rich biodiversity, including over 50,000 plant species and 1,900 bird species, Colombia faces significant climate vulnerabilities. Enhancing climate adaptation and sustainable resource management is crucial. WSP is actively working with public and private clients in the region to protect biodiversity, mitigate risks, and build resilience against climate change impacts.

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Bogota, Colombia

Cleaning up the Bogota River

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Frequently asked question

In which country will COP16 be held?

COP16 will take place in Cali, Colombia. Colombia is a global leader in supporting natural biodiversity, and Cali is the most biodiverse region in the nation, with 75% of its area made up of rural zones.

What is COP16?

COP 16 is the United Nations Biodiversity Conference, which comprises the 16th meeting of the UN Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the 11th meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol, and the 5th meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol.

What is the goal of COP16?

Organized around the theme “Peace with Nature,” COP16 aims to move the conversation around climate change beyond decarbonizing and just energy transitions and make biodiversity an integral part of the climate change agenda. Shifting the focus to restoring nature is a critical step in stabilizing the earth’s climate.

When is COP16?

COP16 will run from October 21 - November 1, 2024.