Species conservation conference ends with partial successes and a lack of funding
After two weeks of negotiations to save our planet's biodiversity, the UN Biodiversity Conference in Cali, Colombia, ended on November 2 with some partial successes, but also a lack of agreement on financing, a key element for equitable implementation. The partial successes include progress in marine conservation and more rights for indigenous peoples.
In Colombia, the countries were unable to agree on how international funds for the conservation of biodiversity should be distributed in the future because many participants had already left the conference, which went into extra time, and there was therefore no longer a quorum.
COP 16 - World Conference on Nature in Cali against the massive extinction of species
However, financing is central to the globally equitable implementation of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, which aims to halt and reverse the loss of species and ecosystems by 2030. The front line was drawn between industrialized and developing countries. The EU, Switzerland and Japan blocked the establishment of a biodiversity fund proposed by the Chair. It was also not possible to reach a decision on the so-called "Monitoring Framework", which is necessary to measure the countries' achievement of the goals of the World Convention on Biological Diversity. It therefore remains to be seen whether the planned stocktaking at the next COP17 will be possible at all.
Use of genetic data to be paid for by companies
A partial success was achieved through the creation of a fund for the sharing of profits from the use of genetic data from plants and animals. In future, anyone wishing to make commercial use of this genetic data is to pay "part of their profits or revenues" into the so-called Cali Fund. The agreement, which is not binding for all sectors such as the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries, stipulates that companies should contribute one percent of their profits or 0.1 percent of their income to the fund.
At the end of the 16th World Conference on Nature, the German Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke said that Cali had succeeded in taking "an enormous step forward in protecting our nature". Nature conservation and climate protection were now better interlinked, there was closer cooperation between the World Biodiversity Council and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and it was "a clear signal for more natural climate protection to the upcoming World Climate Conference in Baku". However, these weeks have also "made it clear that there is still a lot of work ahead of us".
"Nobody can be satisfied with the result"
Environment Minister Leonore Gewessler, who represented Austria at the conference, gave a critical assessment: "Part of the work has been done, but a lot of work remains. I am pleased that we have made good progress in important areas at the World Conference on Nature. But it also remains clear that this is not enough. We still have a lot to do, especially when it comes to implementing the Kunming-Montreal Agreement."
The Minister explained: "I am honest: nobody can be satisfied with this result. The program at this conference was full, but we did not complete it. Everyone must take this lesson on board: Time is running out. Now there is one last chance. And there are no excuses and no reason for delay."
However, the meeting is to be continued at a later date, according to a COP16 spokesperson, at which the outstanding points will be dealt with.
Environmental organizations are disappointed with the result
"This is a bitter disappointment. While biodiversity is in massive decline and our livelihoods are under threat, politicians lack the ambition and consistency to make real progress," says WWF expert Joschka Brangs. "We call on the international community to present solutions to all important outstanding issues as quickly as possible. Anything else would be a declaration of political bankruptcy."
