A new global fund for sharing the benefits of using digital sequence information (DSI) from genetic resources was agreed at COP16 in Cali, Colombia. However, discussions around the establishment of a new wider biodiversity fund, as well as other key decisions, have been postponed and the meeting suspended, because there were no longer enough negotiators in the room to take decisions. This outcome risks undermining confidence in and the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
The ‘Cali Fund’ decision states that companies using digital sequence information (DSI) from genetic biodiversity resources in their products should pay a portion of their profits or revenues into the fund. While the disbursement details are still being finalized, it has been agreed that 50% of the fund will be allocated to Indigenous Peoples and local communities, either directly or through governments. This will enable these communities, including women and youth to finally share in the profits.
Kirsten Schuijt, Director General, WWF International, said: “The new ‘Cali Fund,’ although imperfect and with many details still to be ironed out, is an important step forward. It ensures that companies profiting from nature contribute fairly to biodiversity conservation and directs critical funding to the people and places that need it most.”
However, negotiations around the establishment of a wider new biodiversity fund for developing countries have been suspended.
Commenting on the suspension of the meeting, Schuijt added: “This outcome jeopardizes the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Nobody should be okay with this – because it will impact us all. Delivering the mission to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030 was never going to be easy, but we’re now veering dangerously off track.”
Negotiations about monitoring progress on filling gaps in the framework and on the modalities for a global review process (“stocktake”) in 2026 and 2030, could not be concluded before the COP was suspended.
Developed countries are lagging behind on their commitments to provide US$20 billion annually in international biodiversity financing by 2025. Pledges to the interim funding mechanism, the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF), in Cali were also meager, with the fund currently totaling US$407 million. Actions around identifying and repurposing subsidies harmful to nature have made little headway since the KMGBF was adopted.
At the end of COP16, 44 revised National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) were submitted and 119 Parties have submitted revised National Targets, representing around 63% of countries, a welcome uptick from before the COP when less than half of countries had published plans or targets.
When and whether the plans will be implemented remains unclear though.
Involving local communities
“One of Colombia’s main goals was to bring together diverse community voices from around the world, to ensure their voices were heard at COP16,” says Dr. Lin Li, Senior Director for Global Policy and Advocacy at WWF International. “After many years of attending these summits, for the first time, this truly has been a ‘People’s COP’ – with increased participation of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, Afro-descendants, women, and youth, all raising their concerns for Mother Earth. Their voices must be heard by the decision makers in the negotiation rooms, in government offices, and in the boardrooms of businesses depleting nature, and their requests incorporated into decisions being made,” Li continued.
Sandra Valenzuela, CEO of WWF Colombia added: “The adoption of the Article 8(j) work program and the Subsidiary Body is a momentous decision to guarantee the full and effective participation of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in the work undertaken under the Convention on Biological Diversity. The recognition of the Afro-descendant people embodying traditional lifestyles in conserving biodiversity is essential for the implementation of the Convention. It is a step forward to achieve peace for nature”.
There was notable progress in some areas. This included the mainstreaming of biodiversity across key sectors, with a new government-led Mainstreaming Champions Group launched with the support of 18 Parties (and growing). The adoption of an action plan on biodiversity and health, and of the procedures for describing Ecologically Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) in the oceans were also key developments, the latter representing a significant step toward achieving the target of conserving 30% of ocean areas by 2030. COP16 also saw unprecedented participation from the public, including in the UN CBD’s first Green Zone in Cali.
Progress was also made in integrating nature and climate efforts. With COP29 just weeks away in Baku, WWF welcomes the commitment by Parties to strengthen alignment of NBSAPs and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and to explore stronger collaboration between the climate and biodiversity conventions, as well as better tracking of funding sources to avoid double counting of nature and climate finance.
Here’s a summary of the key outcomes:
Successes
Digital Sequence Information Fund
A new global fund was established to share benefits derived from using digital sequence information (DSI) on genetic resources. This innovative mechanism, known as the Cali Fund, aims to stimulate private finance for nature.
Mainstreaming Biodiversity
Progress was made in mainstreaming biodiversity across key sectors, with the launch of a new government-led Mainstreaming Champions Group supported by 18 parties.
Ocean Conservation
The adoption of procedures for describing Ecologically Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) in the oceans represents a significant step toward achieving the target of conserving 30% of ocean areas by 2030.
Climate and Biodiversity Alignment
Parties committed to strengthening the alignment of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and exploring stronger collaboration between climate and biodiversity conventions.
Challenges and Disappointments
Suspended Negotiations
After a marathon 24-hour final negotiation sprint, discussions on several key issues were suspended due to a lack of negotiators in the room.
Delayed Biodiversity Fund
Negotiations around the establishment of a wider new biodiversity fund for developing countries were suspended.
Incomplete Monitoring Framework
While progress was made on the Global Biodiversity Framework monitoring framework, parties could not complete a comprehensive framework for COP16 approval.
Unresolved Issues
Several contentious issues emerged, resulting in bracketed text for further negotiation. These include synthetic biology, voluntary guidance for living modified fish, and the global action plan on biodiversity and health.
Implications
The suspension of negotiations and delay in crucial finance agreements risk undermining confidence in and implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) was adopted during the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) following a four-year consultation and negotiation process. This historic Framework, which supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and builds on the Convention’s previous Strategic Plans, sets out an ambitious pathway to reach the global vision of a world living in harmony with nature by 2050. Among the Framework’s key elements are 4 goals for 2050 and 23 targets for 2030.
This outcome has raised concerns about the global community’s ability to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030.
The overall outcome of COP16 suggests that significant work remains to be done to address the global biodiversity crisis effectively.
