Bogotá, September 16, 2024 – With less than 40 days to go before the official start of the COP16, Colombia continues to consolidate its global commitment to biodiversity conservation, this time with the United Kingdom, a strategic ally and partner in the fight against climate change and the defense of nature.
Therefore, this Monday, Colombia as host of the COP16 will take over the iconic Natural History Museum in London to join efforts for the global biodiversity meeting.
This event will feature high-level guests, such as the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia, Susana Muhamad; the British Environment Secretary, Steve Reed; the director of the Natural History Museum, Doug Gurr; and the executive director of WWF, Carter Roberts, who will share their commitments to science, biodiversity and Colombia. The purpose of this meeting is to underscore the importance of COP16 and strengthen international relations around environmental protection.
With the support of the Embassy of Colombia in the United Kingdom, the Natural History Museum and WWF, ‘Let’s go to Colombia' will be held, a pre-COP16 event that seeks to share with the UK delegation first-hand the goals, objectives and commitments of Colombia at the Conference of the Parties on Biodiversity.
“We are going to London, together with Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo, to reiterate our invitation to the world to make Peace with Nature, to attend COP16 on biodiversity and to strengthen relations with our partners in the United Kingdom, at a crucial time for the protection and restoration of the planet's biological diversity, which urgently demands us to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Framework,”“, said Colombia's Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Susana Muhamad.
Artistic presentation of Colombian talent within the framework of COP16
The event will culminate with a special performance by the renowned Colombian band Monsieur Periné, who will perform their latest composition 'Jardín del Paraíso'. This piece, inspired by the sounds of the Colombian Pacific, reflects the spirit of the COP16 slogan, 'Peace with Nature'. The performance seeks to connect with attendees and highlight Colombia's rich biodiversity.
COP16 is the world's most important biodiversity summit to be held in Cali (Colombia) from October 21 to November 1, bringing together more than 190 countries.
On the second day of the agenda, the Minister will hold meetings with British parliamentarians and representatives of non-governmental organizations.
As a result of the visit, it is expected that the UK and the British Parliament will support some of the main proposals that Colombia will lead in the COP16 negotiations:
- Promoting the implementation, financing and resource mobilization of the Kunming-Montreal Global Framework.
- Fair benefit-sharing system for genetic resources.
- Work plan for indigenous peoples and local communities.