COP16 Summit Urges Action to Protect Biodiversity

At the COP16 summit in Colombia, nearly 200 countries are urged to mobilize billions for biodiversity conservation as they work to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to halt nature loss by 2030. Despite the framework's adoption two years ago, only millions have been raised for the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, far short of the $200 billion needed annually. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Brazil's negotiator Andre Correa do Lago emphasized the urgency of filling financial gaps without further burdening developing nations. Concurrently, the Centre for Alternatives for Victimized Women and Children (CAVWOC) in Malawi warns that climate change, exacerbated by deforestation, increases cyclone risks, urging communities to adopt sustainable practices. The summit also aims to establish a multilateral system for accessing genetic data, highlighting the importance of Indigenous communities in conservation efforts. Countries are expected to submit national biodiversity plans by the summit's conclusion on November 1, focusing on conservation targets and sustainability.