The COP16 is currently experiencing its most intense days in negotiations. It has the presence of several world leaders and as evidenced by the statements made, it continues working on financingwhich is the most delicate and at the same time the problem that needs the most urgent solutions.
COP16: final days of the summit
The President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, has officially opened the culmination of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16), the most political moment of the event and which brings together heads of state, ministers and representatives of the delegations from 194 countries meet to make progress in making the necessary decisions allow us to protect the planet’s biodiversity.
The opening of the high-level session was attended by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, and the Presidents of Ecuador, Daniel Noboa; from Armenia, Vahagn Khachaturyan; from Guinea-Bissau, Úmaro Sissoco Embaló; from Suriname, Chan Santokh, and from the Presidential Transitional Council of Haiti, Leslie Voltaire.
There were also the COP16 senior managersincluding the president of the conference and Minister of the Environment of Colombia, Susana Muhamad, as well as vice presidents such as Francia Márquez Mina, from Colombia, and David Choquehuanca, from Bolivia.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered a speech describing the global environmental crisis as a “war against nature“, where “there can be no winners.”
Guterres noted that “the driving forces behind this destruction are rooted in outdated economic models fuel unsustainable production and consumption patterns. And they are multiplied by inequality – in wealth and power. “With each passing day, we move closer to tipping points that could fuel more hunger, displacement and armed conflict.”
In addition, he stressed the urgency of restoring harmony with our planet and urged countries to present clear plans for adapting to global conservation goals and to encourage the mobilization of financial resources, not only from public sources, but also from the private sector. “Biodiversity is our ally; we must move from sacrificing it to preserving it“, said.
There’s no more time
In the opening speech of the summit, Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro reiterated the same points he had already made at the beginning of the elections. COP16 on October 21: Criticism of the productive sectors of the economy that have affected the economy climate crisis and the debt burden of developing countries This has become an obstacle to taking action to halt the loss of global biodiversity.
Petro assured that this COP16 is an attempt to reconcile with nature, because “we still live on our knees behind coal and oil.” Moreover, he indicated that greed determines the course what to do about the climate crisis and the death of biodiversity“which is nothing but the death of humanity. “Greed against life.”
The Colombian president assured that the world cannot remain obsessed with the fact that the financial system will solve the problems of climate and biodiversity. “We make mistakes and time is running out.” he noted.
He also criticized developed countries for, he said, emitting emissions 1,500 times more pollution than emerging countriesthey burn the oil they extract from those countries and the money from those profits is used to debt the same countries from which they extracted the resources.
The Colombian president emphasized the fact that the COP16 is held in Cali, because “when we meet from COP to COP, we do so in places where not a soul arrives, because it seems that we want to make decisions that are far removed from humanity. We are concerned that the humanity protests and wants to make decisions… [los tomadores de decisiones] They are nothing more than undemocratic,” he said.
Daniel Noboa, President of Ecuador, said his country is “resolutely” committed to the goals of the Ecuadorian government Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and with the implementation of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The South American country has not yet presented its full Biodiversity Action Plan (NBSAP), but it is one of 115 countries that have submitted a number of national targets in line with the Global Framework to the CBD.
“In Ecuador, the basic needs of almost half of people under the age of 30 are unsatisfied They cannot think about preserving biodiversitythey can’t think about anything at all. If we protect people, they can preserve the environment,” Noboa said at the meeting COP16.
Both the President of Ecuador and the President of Suriname, Chan Santokh, expressed their opinions commitment to overcoming the biodiversity crisisbut they made it clear that their countries face complex economic landscapes that could disrupt this objective.
Santokh assured that “our full NBSAP is a testament to our commitment to including sustainability in our policy. “We also recognize the value of the knowledge and tradition of our indigenous communities so that our efforts are effective and equitable.”
The President of Armenia, Vahagn Khachaturyan, assured this COP16 It is the perfect opportunity to review the actions taken by countries over the past two years, following the signing of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. “Armenia has tried to positively influence other countries to promote progress issue of the Global Biodiversity Fund and its financing”. Khachaturyan also assured that his country is interested in hosting COP17 in 2026.
COP16: Peace with nature
Susana Muhamad, Minister of the Environment of Colombia and Chair of COP16, emphasized that the presidents of Ecuador, Colombia, Suriname, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti and Armenia are the first heads of state to participate in a biodiversity treaty: “This is not small, because this It is no longer an issue for conservationists, ecologists or environmentalists.“It is an issue that must be at the center of public policy of governments and the world, and its presence increases the level of political discussion that the COP has on biodiversity, and it was also one of the objectives of organizing of this event. “.
After the opening ceremony of the COP16, Mohammed and Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo launched the Global Peace with Nature Coalition. With this initiative, they aim to get citizens, leaders, businesses and all sectors to take urgent action to care for the planet. The coalition document, which contains 23 points, already has the support of 16 countries and it is also available for anyone to read, sign and show their support over the Internet.
The initiative aims to promote concrete actions to protect biodiversity and restore ecosystemspromoting social and environmental justice, strengthening international cooperation and empowering local communities to lead change towards a sustainable society and planet.
One of the key points emphasizes “the commitment to promote consolidationto, strengthen and createabout alliances between dadstates, regions, sectors and citiesand to enhance international cooperation and solidarity, by increasing biodiversity assistance to developing countries, including financial assistance, technology transfer and capacity development.
Time is running out during COP16 and it is necessary to take applicable and effective measures aimed at achieving the 23 measures and four objectives of this Summit to successfully conclude this event and save the millions of lives at stake.
Antonio José Paz Cardona – Mongabay