This year’s United Nations Biodiversity Conference will be the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity. It will take place from 21 October to 1 November in Cali, Colombia. Governments from around the world will come together to further develop the goals guiding global action, through to 2030, aiming to halt and reverse the biodiversity crisis. The world has seen a 69% average decline in global wildlife populations since 1970.

But what exactly is COP16 – and why is it so important for sustainable development?

What is the Convention on Biological Diversity?

At the 1992 Rio Earth Summit in Brazil, 150 world leaders signed a comprehensive strategy for sustainable development – designed to meet humanity’s growing needs while ensuring we leave a healthy, viable planet for future generations. One of the key agreements adopted in Rio de Janeiro was the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Convention established three main goals: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of genetic resources. Since its signing, two supplementary agreements – the Cartagena and Nagoya Protocols – have been made to expand the scope of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

What is the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework?

In 2022, COP15 saw the adoption of a new set of international goals for biodiversity called the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Described as nature’s equivalent to the Paris Agreement, it was the result of a four-year consultation and negotiation process. At COP15, 196 parties agreed to the Framework to address the ongoing loss of land and marine biodiversity. Their agreement has committed those parties to halting and reversing the biodiversity crisis by the end of the decade.

The Kunming–Montreal Framework supports the achievements of the Sustainable Development Goals, builds on the Convention’s previous Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 and the Aichi Targets, and adopts a human rights–based approach. This historic package of measures includes four goals and 23 targets to be achieved by 2030. Each of these is deemed critical to addressing the dangerous loss of biodiversity and restoring natural ecosystems. The targets include:

• Protecting 30% of Earth’s lands, oceans, coastal areas and inland waters
• Phasing out or reforming subsidies that harm biodiversity by at least USD 500 billion per year, while scaling up positive incentives for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use
• Halving global food waste.

At COP16, governments will be tasked with reviewing the state of implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework, developing the monitoring framework and advancing resource mobilisation.

Why do COP16 and the Framework matter for sustainable development?

Nature is declining globally at unprecedented rates: over 1 million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction by 2030. And that biodiversity is fundamental to human wellbeing and a healthy planet. Transformational change is needed to prevent biodiversity’s decline as well as the worsening food and energy crises and the impacts of climate change.

Biodiversity and ecosystems are central to many of the Sustainable Development Goals and their associated targets. Biodiversity is also integral to global economic activities, particularly crop and livestock agriculture, forestry and fisheries. Nearly half of the global population is directly dependent on natural resources for livelihoods, and many of the most vulnerable people depend directly on biodiversity to fulfil their daily subsistence needs. The Sustainable Development Goals and Global Biodiversity Framework are thus mutually supportive and reinforcing, as the implementation of one contributes to the achievement of the other.

How can Scriptoria help you communicate during COP16?

Humanity is standing on the brink of global transformative change. This is a great opportunity to join the conversations being had across the sector around COP16 with your organisation’s message. At Scriptoria, we are experts in communicating about sustainable development. Our team craft impactful content, such as blogs, videos, reports and social media toolkits, allowing you to convey clear messages about complex and nuanced topics. We also develop detailed communications strategies and campaigns, giving your organisation the support it needs to maximise the reach and impact of your communications.

Get in touch for more information on our communications services: communications@scriptoria.co.uk