Stand.earth at the 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP16)

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Cali, Colombia – International environmental organization Stand.earth will join the climate justice movement at the 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP16) in Cali, Colombia from October 21 to November 1. Beyond hosting and collaborating on side events, Stand.earth will support Indigenous partners with advocacy for the protection of forests and global fossil fuel phase-out. Stand.earth experts and advocates from its Amazonia and Northern Forests campaigns are available for comment throughout COP16.

For Stand.earth’s campaigns related to the Amazon rainforest, this is a critical moment to set the groundwork for the implementation of Indigenous-led solutions until the 2025 UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Brazil. 

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

“COP16 is a great opportunity to coordinate actions and develop progress indicators to protect the Amazon, an ecosystem of particular importance for global biodiversity. The solutions to the climate crisis already exist in the region and are being led by Indigenous Peoples. We must support and invest in Indigenous solutions that are already proving effective in conserving the forest, its biodiversity, and fighting climate change.”

 

Forests in Amazonia and Canada both face an existential threat. They are united by the growing challenges related to their destruction and degradation, as well as by the solutions: Indigenous Peoples have been the guardians of the Amazon and Northern forests for millenia, and are leading on the solutions for their conservation. 

At COP15 in Canada, Parties signed the Kunming-Montreal protocol, a 10-year framework aimed at halting and reversing global biodiversity loss. The agreement had significant shortcomings, such as failing to specifically hold up the importance of protecting primary forests; as well as key strengths, like the recognition of Indigenous Territories in Target 3. 

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

“Some of the most carbon-rich, biodiverse forests in the world are on Indigenous lands across Canada. Instead of curtailing logging in these ancient, irreplaceable forests, Canadian governments are overseeing – and subsidizing – the expansion of the utility-scale forest biomass industry, which grinds trees into pellets to be burned for electricity. We cannot afford a highly polluting, destructive and dangerous distraction from real solutions. At COP16 and beyond, Canada and other countries must take steps to safeguard forests and uphold the rights of Indigenous peoples to manage their territories.”

Join Stand’s representatives at the COP16 events below

Amazonia in crisis: governance, connectivity and protection urgently needed
When: October 21 – 8:30 to 11:30 (Colombia time)
Where: Banco de Bogotá – Auditorio Principal
Organizers: Amazonia for Life coalition, Instituto de Pesquisa e Formación Indígena (IEP), Fundación para la Conservación y Desarrollo (FCDS), Foro Social Panamazónico

Amazonía Libre de Petróleo y Gas
When: October 23 – 13:30 to 15:45
Where: Green Zone (Banco de Occidente – Sala 4)
Organizers: Amazon Watch, 350.org, ACS, ADISPA, AIDESEP, APIB, CAN, ClimaInfo, COIAB, CONAIE, CONFENIAE, Farn, Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, Global Gas & Oil Network, GTANC, IEMA, Mocicc, NRGI, Stand, UDAPT

Amazonia against the clock: Ensuring the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to Avoid the Point of No Return
When: October 24 – 16:00 (Colombia time)
Where: Blue Zone (Pabellón Colombia)
Organizers: Amazonia for Life coalition: COICA, Stand.earth, RAISG, Avaaz, Amazon Watch, Wild Heritage, Re:Wild, Earth Insights and GFLAC.

Yasuní: A historic opportunity to address the climate crisis
When: October 24 – 18:30 (Colombia time)
Where: Green Zone (Banco de Occidente – Sala 4)
Organizers: NAWE, 350.org, Acción Ecológica, AIDA, Amazon Watch, ClimaInfo, Farn, Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, Global Gas & Oil Network, Mocicc, Stand.earth

Stop bank financing of oil and gas in the Amazon
When: October 29 – 16:30 to 17:30 (Colombia time)
Where: Blue Zone (Mesa Permanente de Concertación)
Organizer: Stand.earth

Peace for the Amazon
When: October 29 – 17:00 to 17:45 (Colombia time)
Where: Green Zone (Centro Cultural de Cali – Auditório Principal)
Organizers: Amazonia for Life coalition

Yasuní: A historic opportunity to address the climate crisis
When: October 29 – 18:00 (Colombia time)
Where: Blue Zone (Paramos – NGOs meeting room – Plaza One)
Organizers: NAWE, 350.org, Acción Ecológica, AIDA, Amazon Watch, ClimaInfo, Farn, Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, Global Gas & Oil Network, Mocicc, Stand.earth

Amazon Free from Extractivism: Time to end the oil, gas and critical minerals exploitation in this key biome to address the climate crisis, protect biodiversity, and guarantee Indigenous Rights
When: October 31 – 10:00 (Colombia time)
Where: Blue Zone (Cocuy – Marie Khan Women’s Caucus meeting room – Plaza One)
Organizers: Amazon Watch, 350.org, ACS, ADISPA, AIDESEP, APIB, CAN, ClimaInfo, COIAB, CONAIE, CONFENIAE, Farn, Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, Global Gas & Oil Network, GTANC, IEMA, Mocicc, NRGI, Stand, UDAPT

The beginning of COP16 also coincides with the annual International Day of Action on Big Biomass. Spearheaded by the Biomass Action Network, a coalition of more than 200 civil society groups will join in collective actions around the world on October 21 to call attention to the negative environmental and social impacts of burning forest biomass at utility scale to generate electricity.

Media contacts

In Cali, Colombia – Lays Ushirobira, Amazonia Communications Manager – lays.ushirobira@stand.earth / Cell, WhatsApp +34 685 20 05 91 (English, Spanish, Portuguese, French)

In Cali, Colombia – Tegan Hansen, Senior Forest Campaigner – tegan@stand.earth / Cell, WhatsApp, Signal +1 250-354-3302 (English, French)

In Toronto, Canada – Kathryn Semogas, Canada Communications Specialist – kathryn.semogas@stand.earth / cell, WhatsApp +1 905-536-3800  (English)