16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties : Highlights
The 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was held in Cali, Colombia, where 190 countries discussed measures to achieve global biodiversity goals, including the ambitious 30-by-30 target.
- The COP-16 aims to finalize mechanisms for implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) targets, which were set in 2022.
- The primary focus was on ensuring biodiversity conservation, reducing pollution, and establishing fair benefit-sharing systems, especially for Digital Sequence Information (DSI).
- The conference emphasized integrating biodiversity into national and global policies and aligning climate change actions with biodiversity goals.
Highlights from COP-16:
- Aiming to conserve 30% of land and ocean areas by 2030 and restore 30% of degraded ecosystems.
- Establishment of a body to include indigenous groups in biodiversity discussions.
- Ongoing debates on fair benefit-sharing from the use of genetic data, with plans for a multilateral mechanism yet unresolved.
- Agreement on technical support for biodiversity mainstreaming, addressing invasive species, and enhancing biodiversity-climate synergy.
- India presented an updated biodiversity plan, projecting an expenditure of ₹81,664 crore for biodiversity and conservation from 2025-30, building on the ₹32,207 crore spent from 2018-22.
- India emphasized the need for international finance, as outlined in KMGBF’s Target 19, to support biodiversity goals beyond government funds.
- India highlighted its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), reinforcing its commitment to biodiversity conservation through targeted actions.
- India cited the establishment of the International Big Cat Alliance for the conservation of big cats, indicative of its efforts in global wildlife conservation.
- India raised its number of Ramsar sites (wetlands of international importance) from 26 in 2014 to 85 and aims to reach 100, underscoring its dedication to wetland conservation.
