COP16 Biodiversity Summit Opens in Colombia

Colombia has opened the COP16 biodiversity summit in Cali, amid security threats from armed guerrilla groups in the Amazon. The summit, attended by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, aims to foster international cooperation for biodiversity preservation and follows alarming statistics revealing a 20-year high in coca leaf cultivation in Colombia. President Gustavo Petro emphasized the connection between capital accumulation and environmental degradation, urging wealthier nations to support Colombia's environmental initiatives through debt swaps. Guterres called for significant investments in the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, highlighting that those profiting from nature should contribute to its protection. The conference, running until November 1, is the first major global event focused on biodiversity since the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Framework was established. Delegates are tasked with developing actionable plans to meet biodiversity targets and mobilize necessary funding.