UN Biodiversity Conference- COP16

Source: The post UN Biodiversity Conference- COP16 has been created, based on the article “Biodiversity COP16: What is it, what is on agenda this year” published in “Indian Express” on 23rd October 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 – Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.

Context: The article discusses the UN Biodiversity Conference in Cali, Colombia, focusing on the Convention on Biological Diversity. It highlights goals to protect biodiversity, including the 30 x 30 targets. Financial support for conservation and fair sharing of genetic resources are key topics at COP16.

What is the UN Biodiversity Conference and its purpose?

1. The UN Biodiversity Conference, held every two years, is currently taking place in Cali, Colombia.
2. It focuses on the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), established at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, which aims to protect global biodiversity, restore ecosystems, and equitably share biological resources.
3. This year’s event is the 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) under the CBD.
4. The main goal is to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (COP15), which includes four goals and 23 targets to be achieved by 2030.

For detailed information on COP15 of Convention on Biodiversity read this article here

Why are biodiversity discussions gaining attention?

Biodiversity discussions are gaining attention due to their strong link with climate change. Both crises are caused by resource extraction and unsustainable practices. Climate change accelerates biodiversity loss, while degraded ecosystems contribute to global warming. This has led to a convergence in the goals of biodiversity and climate negotiations.

What are the expected discussions of CO16?

1. Progress on 30 x 30 Targets: Countries will push forward on the goal to conserve 30% of land and oceans and restore 30% of degraded areas by 2030. Countries need to submit National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), similar to climate-related Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). So far, only 32 out of 196 countries have submitted their NBSAPs.
2. High Seas Treaty: It is also known as the agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdictions or BBNJ, which was finalised last year as a separate international agreement to maintain the ecological health of oceans. At COP16, the focus will be on protecting biodiversity-rich ocean areas and ensuring fair distribution of genetic resources.
3. Sharing Genetic Resources: The Nagoya Protocol, agreed upon in 2010, set rules for sharing benefits from bio-resources. At COP16, discussions will include how to share profits from digital genetic sequences of plants and organisms. This is especially important for indigenous populations.
4. Financial Mobilization: The Kunming-Montreal Framework calls for $200 billion per year by 2030 to be spent on conservation, with developed countries providing $20-30 billion annually to developing countries. Ways and means to mobilise these financial resources is one of the main items on the agenda at COP16.
5. Eliminating Harmful Subsidies: Countries are expected to phase out $500 billion worth of harmful subsidies by 2030.

Question for practice:

Discuss the main goals and expected discussions at COP16 of the UN Biodiversity Conference in Cali, Colombia.