After some progress, COP16 ends with challenges for implementation of Global Biodiversity Framework

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Cali, Colombia (3 November 2024) – The United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16) was suspended yesterday with major achievements but also great challenges for the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework, which sets targets to safeguard and sustainably use biodiversity. Stand.earth applauds the delegations from Colombia and Brazil, who brought bold and ambitious proposals, building hope for transformative change towards the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) that will be held in Brazil next year.

Key milestones at COP16

• Creation of the Permanent Subsidiary Body on Article 8j (SB8J): One of the most significant advancements has been the creation of a Permanent Subsidiary Body that will formalize decision-making power Indigenous Peoples and local communities in UN biodiversity conservation decisions. Originally proposed by Bolivia in 2016, the creation of SB8J faced years of stalled discussions and a lack of political consensus. At COP15, held in Canada, in 2022, discussions remained inconclusive and the decisions were postponed to COP16. The creation of the SB8J is a major step forward, although there is still no consensus on its modus operandi, which is expected to be defined at the next UN Biodiversity Conference.

• Recognition of the role of afrodescendants on biodiversity conservation: Another advancement was the acknowledgement of the contributions of people of African descent, particularly those embodying traditional lifestyles, in conserving biodiversity and implementing the Convention. This decision invites Parties to recognize their knowledge and connection to the land in alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. It encourages Parties to facilitate the participation of these communities in biodiversity efforts, protect their knowledge and practices, provide financial support and capacity-building, and include their contributions in national biodiversity reports.

• Aligning biodiversity and climate discussions: Since the establishment of the Rio Conventions, each has progressed independently despite the intrinsic connections among them. For the first time, there is a proposal to more closely align these agendas, recognizing that addressing biodiversity and climate change together enables more effective sustainable solutions. Biodiversity plays a critical role in climate regulation, with ecosystems like forests, wetlands, and oceans acting as carbon sinks to mitigate greenhouse gasses. Healthy ecosystems also bolster resilience to climate impacts by buffering floods, mitigating megafires, stabilizing coastlines, and reducing urban heat. Climate change accelerates biodiversity loss, disrupting habitats and ecosystem functions. While Stand.earth welcomes the progress towards integrating the Rio Conventions, it is disappointing that, despite Colombia’s considerable efforts, all references to fossil fuels were removed. Fossil fuels are the primary drivers of greenhouse gas emissions, and an explicit mention of them is essential. In addition, we are concerned that Parties removed reference to bioenergy as a potential threat to both climate and biodiversity, in particular to forests.

Remaining challenges from COP16

• Resistance from European Union, United Kingdom and Japan over the creation of a dedicated Fund for biodiversity: ​​At COP16, resource mobilization was a contentious issue, with developing countries advocating for a dedicated biodiversity fund under COP governance, separate from the existing Global Environment Facility (GEF). Colombia proposed a new fund, highlighting sovereign debt options, but wealthier countries, including the EU, UK, and Japan, resisted, preferring to strengthen GEF contributions. Although a draft text proposed establishing a new global biodiversity fund by 2025, the decision was delayed with Panama proposing to review quorum in the morning of November 2. In the interim, developed countries pledged around $396 million to the GEF’s Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, far below the Kunming-Montreal target of $20 billion by 2025, underscoring the persistent funding gap for biodiversity initiatives and the frustration of developing nations over unmet financial commitments. 

• Disappointment over not considering Indigenous Territories on the headline indicators of target 3 “30×30”: The suspension of the Plenary due to a lack of quorum left the document on Mechanisms and Review pending approval. However, discussions in the Contact Groups revealed significant opposition to recognizing Indigenous Territories as a distinct conservation category under Target 3’s 30×30 goal. The draft document awaiting approval continues to focus solely on protected area coverage and other area-based conservation measures, failing to acknowledge the unique contributions and rights of Indigenous Peoples in conservation. During COP15, Indigenous Peoples and local communities strongly advocated for this recognition and this COP is a missed opportunity to integrate Indigenous Territories as vital elements in achieving biodiversity targets.

• Exclusion of illegal activities as a driver of biodiversity loss and deforestation: Despite an agreement to strengthen cooperation across conventions, COP16 negotiations overlooked the critical impact of illegal economies—such as mining and logging—on biodiversity loss and climate change. Colombia proposed a dedicated agenda item on enhancing cooperation among various conventions, yet discussions remained focused on collaboration with the UNFCCC Secretariat, excluding other relevant UN mechanisms that tackle illegal activities in the Amazon, such as the Minamata Convention and the Convention on Transnational Organized Crime. This narrow approach misses an important opportunity to address illegal activities as major drivers of environmental degradation in vulnerable ecosystems like the Amazon.

Gisela Hurtado, Senior Amazonia Campaigner at Stand.earth, said:

“COP16 marked critical progress by creating the Permanent Subsidiary Body on Article 8j, and in recognizing the role of Afrodescendant communities in biodiversity conservation. However, significant gaps remain. The absence of Indigenous Territories as a distinct conservation category in the 30×30 target, limited funding commitments from wealthier nations, and the exclusion of illegal activities as drivers of biodiversity loss and deforestation reveal the ongoing challenges. True progress requires both financial commitments and a comprehensive approach to addressing biodiversity and climate crises, including confronting the impacts of fossil fuels and illegal economies.”

“We highlight Colombia’s leadership in addressing climate change and biodiversity together – a long-overdue step forward. However, it is regrettable that some countries actively removed references to fossil fuels, the primary source of greenhouse gas emissions, thereby weakening the impact of these decisions. We remain hopeful that the UN Climate Change Conference, which will be held later this month, will seize the opportunity to strengthen this agenda and pave a clear path to COP30, where Indigenous Peoples are placing their hopes for transformative change.”

“We highlight the leadership of Brazil in the creation of the Permanent Subsidiary Body on Article 8j. This new body marks a monumental shift in how global biodiversity is managed, ensuring that Indigenous Peoples and local communities have a continuous and meaningful role in decision-making.”

Tegan Hansen, Senior Forest Campaigner at Stand.earth, said:

“With the bittersweet suspension of COP16, we are celebrating the continued leadership of Indigenous Peoples, and their critical success at this summit with the creation of a new permanent body under the UN biodiversity convention. But we are still seeing a devastating lack of ambition from countries around the planet, especially from those who are most responsible for the biodiversity crisis. Instead of pushing dangerous distractions like biomass energy, we need countries to step up with real solutions like protecting primary forests, upholding Indigenous rights, and ending harmful subsidies – both in these international agreements, and as policy at home.” 

“As we look ahead to climate talks at COP29, we continue to demand that countries like Canada rise to the level that this crisis demands, by taking meaningful action on the international stage and at home to defend the ecosystems that we all depend on.”

ENDS

Notes to the editors

Gisela Hurtado, Senior Amazonia Campaigner, and Tegan Hansen, Senior Forest Campaigner, are available for interviews. 

Media contacts

Lays Ushirobira, Amazonia Communications Manager
lays.ushirobira@stand.earth / +34 685 20 05 91 

Kathryn Semogas, Canada Communications Specialist
kathryn.semogas@stand.earth / +1 905 536 3800