Linda Krueger, Director of Biodiversity and Infrastructure Policy, The Nature Conservancy, and co-lead of CCICED’s Special Policy Study “Biodiversity Conservation and Implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Framework”
Biodiversity is essential for human survival and well-being, providing critical ecosystem services like pollination, water purification, and climate regulation. Economically, it supports agriculture, tourism, and pharmaceuticals, ensuring food security and generating revenue. Ecosystems with high biodiversity are more resilient to environmental changes and disasters, such as floods and wildfires. Ethically, we have a responsibility to protect other species and the natural world, recognizing their intrinsic value and right to exist. Biodiversity loss can lead to other forms of ecosystem degradation, increased vulnerability to natural disasters, reduced agricultural productivity, and the spread of diseases. In short, investing in biodiversity conservation is both an environmental imperative and a strategic economic and social priority.
Priorities for COP16
With all this at stake, the upcoming Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16) in Cali, Colombia, is a pivotal moment for global biodiversity policy. This conference marks the first major gathering since the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) under the Chinese Presidency of COP15, which aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and achieve harmony with nature by 2050. The success of COP16 will hinge on the ability of nations to translate global commitments into national actions, ensuring that the four goals and 23 targets of the GBF are met. This includes integrating biodiversity considerations across all sectors of government and society, establishing robust mechanisms for monitoring, reporting, and reviewing progress, and ensuring the conditions and financing are in place to drive action at national and subnational levels.
Closing the Finance Gap
Meeting the GBF’s finance targets is essential for reaching any of the other targets. While the world has made strides in mobilizing new funding for biodiversity and in developing solutions for nature financing, there is still much work to be done to get money to the countries that need it most. At COP16, world leaders have the chance to simplify and streamline access to financial resources for developing countries, Indigenous People, and local communities—ensuring a truly global investment in nature where everyone can achieve conservation goals equitably.
COP16 can also help close the gap by better integrating climate and biodiversity finance, recognizing that nature-based solutions are fundamental to delivering on the mitigation and adaptation actions needed to meet the Paris Agreement goals.
These are among the recommendations of the 2024 Special Policy Study (SPS) Biodiversity Conservation and Implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Framework from the China Council for Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED).
“The success of COP16 will hinge on the ability of nations to translate global commitments into national actions.”
Mainstreaming Biodiversity Across the Economy
While our SPS analyzes the state of nature finance and the role of establishing protected areas in achieving the targets of the GBF, these actions alone are insufficient to stem the tide of biodiversity loss. Countries must address the drivers of biodiversity loss and transform our production systems to align with biodiversity objectives. One task at COP16 will be ensuring that mainstreaming biodiversity across all sectors remains a strong workstream in the Convention and within country action plans. Mainstreaming biodiversity means nature is considered and protected across all sectors, including food production systems, energy, infrastructure, and finance. These are some of the most challenging targets for governments to address because they involve working across ministries and a broad array of—sometimes conflicting—interests. It requires aligning financial flows with biodiversity goals, putting in place effective governance structures, and engaging diverse stakeholders, including Indigenous People, local communities, and the private sector. It won’t be easy, but to be successful, nature must be integrated into all aspects of our economies.
Private Sector Engagement
The business community has shown increasing interest in contributing to nature-positive outcomes in recent years. The Kunming-Montreal Framework’s requirements for businesses to disclose impacts and dependencies on nature are driving further engagement from the private sector. While corporate representatives cannot participate in the negotiating process, their expected strong participation in side events and parallel conferences at COP16 is an important and welcome signal that awareness of the biodiversity crisis is growing well beyond its traditional environmental audience.
Safeguarding biodiversity is indeed a critical policy priority that underpins human survival, economic stability, and ethical stewardship. The upcoming COP16 in Cali is a pivotal moment for translating global commitments into actionable national policies. By integrating biodiversity considerations across all sectors and ensuring equitable financial support, we can achieve the ambitious targets of the Kunming-Montreal GBF. Success at COP16 will depend on effective governance, innovative financing, and robust engagement with stakeholders, including Indigenous People, local communities, and the private sector. The tools are available, and by coming together at this conference, the world can make it happen.
The views expressed are the author’s and not necessarily those of CCICED.