Within the framework of COP16, which ends this week in Colombia, the UN defined three biodiversity priorities. This was expressed by the Secretary-General, António Guterres, who has been participating in the meetings of the Conference in Cali since yesterday.
As a summary, he mentioned that he saw “good progress” in the negotiations and wanted to thank everyone for their efforts. “But with less than two days of negotiations left, we need to accelerate. I want to highlight three priorities,” he urged.
The three biodiversity priorities established by the UN
During the United Nations Conference on Biodiversity, COP16, which concludes this Friday in Cali, Guterres referred to three points:
1. “A new era for ambitious national biodiversity plans”
“Currently, most countries have national objectives that align with the Global Biodiversity Framework,” he observed.
Therefore, he urged all Member States to follow their own example and align these national plans with their climate change adaptation plans through the so-called Nationally Determined Contributions, scheduled for early next year.
Within this first priority, he also stated that an agreement must be reached on a strengthened monitoring and transparency framework to ensure accountability.
2. Biodiversity priorities: financial resources, public and private, national and international
The second priority is to leave Cali with “concrete plans to unlock new financing and share the benefits of using genetic resources”.
“This means capitalizing the Global Biodiversity Fund,” he said. He also thanked the countries and regions that pledged an additional 163 million dollars this week.
“But if we want to fully comply with the Global Biodiversity Framework, we need much more,” he emphasized.
To achieve this, Guterres proposed mobilizing 200 billion dollars annually by 2030 from all sources: national, international, public, and private.
He also addressed “companies that profit from nature,” who must contribute to its protection and restoration.
3. Protecting Indigenous Peoples
The third priority refers to “recognizing, involving, and protecting those who safeguard our natural heritage: Indigenous peoples and local communities with vital knowledge about biodiversity conservation”.
“In Cali, we must reach an agreement on the proposal to establish a new permanent body for Indigenous peoples and local communities within the Convention on Biological Diversity, ensuring that their voices are heard at every step of the Convention’s work,” Guterres concluded.