October 2, 2024
What is COP16?
“COP16” refers to the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16). This year’s COP will be held in Cali, Colombia, October 21 through November 1. The conference theme is “Peace with Nature.”
The goal of COP16 is for participants to develop a plan for implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). Adopted at COP15, this historic framework supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals and charts an ambitious path forward for human beings to live in harmony with nature. With GBF targets set for 2030, and goals in place for 2050, COP16 will now gather parties together to agree on a concrete plan to meet these objectives.
Colombia: A Country Rich in Biodiversity
Colombia is a fitting host for COP16: the Latin American country is listed as one of the world’s “megadiverse” countries, home to 10% of the planet’s biodiversity. According to World Wildlife Fund, there are more bird, amphibian, butterfly, and frog species in Colombia than anywhere else in the world. The country boasts the stunning Andes, rich Amazon forest, and blue Caribbean and Pacific waters.
Francia Márquez, the current vice president of Colombia, won the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2018 for her leadership in stopping illegal gold mining on her community’s ancestral land. A human rights activist and environmental defender, Francia continues to defy boundaries and odds.
Colombia is rich in grassroots environmental leadership; in addition to Francia, four more Colombians have won the Goldman Prize: Juan Mayr (1993), Berito Kuwaru’wa (1998), Libia Grueso (2004), and Nohra Padilla (2013). Explore their profile pages to learn about their unique stories and impressive commitment to the environment.
Unfortunately, Colombia is also the world’s most dangerous countries for environmental activists. Global Witness reports that 79 individuals were murdered in Colombia in 2023, the highest annual total since their documentation began in 2012. Latin America consistently has the most documented murders of land and environmental defenders.
Why is COP16 Important?
This year’s conference theme, “Peace with Nature,” underscores the importance of an interconnected relationship with nature. Our societies are not separate from nature but, rather, we are a part of nature—and its fate is directly tied to our own. Only by reversing habitat loss, protecting endangered species, and creating spaces for biodiversity to thrive will we build the foundation for a prosperous future. Consider the fisheries sector, where 60 million jobs globally are tied to fishing and fish farming; or the Amazon forest, which stores carbon equivalent to 15-20 years of global CO₂ emissions. Nature is integrated into all aspects of our lives. It is critical that all parties at COP16, from governments and Indigenous peoples to the private sector, engage in an equitable process to build peace with nature.
Why is the Goldman Prize Attending COP16?
As the foremost award for grassroots environmental leaders, the Goldman Prize recognizes the critical role of civil society in advancing the protection and restoration of biodiversity. We need all hands on deck to succeed: NGOs, philanthropists, activists, policymakers, business leaders, and average citizens. COP16 presents a key opportunity to convene in-person with Prize winners and other changemakers. Our team is excited to attend and advocate on behalf of people defending biodiversity and the environment in every corner of the world.
