COP16: What we want to see happen

What’s COP16?

You’ve likely heard of the global climate COP, the annual UN conference uniting countries to address the climate crisis. But there is another COP that focuses entirely on nature and the importance of biodiversity.

And this year, it’s the 16th meeting for countries involved in the Convention on Biological Diversity – a 1992 international agreement on how we should protect the planet’s resources.

Taking place between October 21st – November 1st 2024 in Cali, Colombia, world leaders will come together to discuss ways to protect biodiversity and use natural resources more sustainably.

Cool Earth is speaking at COP16 and we’re advocating for Indigenous and local community involvement in rainforest protection. 

Here’s 3 things we want to see happen at COP16:

💰 Increased funding for biodiversity conservation that goes directly to Indigenous communities to ensure it’s used where it will have the most impact.

🍃 Indigenous knowledge to be recognised as vital in protecting nature. Indigenous communities and their wisdom should be central to all nature and climate action decisions.

🦜 Nations must address climate change as part of the biodiversity agenda, as the two are deeply interconnected. Neither issue can be effectively solved without tackling the other.

A frog with a brilliant blue underbelly and legs with sticking red back and head , sits on a green leaf

The Biodiversity COPs have been gradually increasing attention as organisations, governments and global policy makers are finally realising that there is no future for the planet without biodviersity.

As more attention than ever is being focused on the need to protect biodiversity, it will be interesting to see what progress is made this year and how these decisions might influence future efforts to combat climate change. Stay tuned for updates.