Global Biodiversity Negotiations Begin in Colombia

Delegates from 196 nations are gathering in Cali, Colombia for COP16, the first biodiversity summit since the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted, aimed at reversing nature loss by 2030. This summit will include negotiations on the Convention on Biological Diversity and its supplementary protocols concerning biosafety and genetic resource sharing. Concurrently, research from EPFL highlights significant issues with current climate models, revealing that many fail to accurately predict sea surface temperatures, which raises concerns about the effectiveness of current climate mitigation strategies. Additionally, the increasing regulatory demands for biodiversity reporting, driven by frameworks like the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, are pushing businesses to integrate biodiversity into their financial disclosures. The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive also mandates improved sustainability disclosures by 2025, prompting CFOs to take a more active role in these efforts. As the global focus on biodiversity intensifies, organizations must adapt their reporting practices to meet evolving regulations and demonstrate accountability in their sustainability initiatives.