Santiago de Cali, Valle del Cauca, March 8, 2024. During her tour in the city of Cali, the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Susana Muhamad, summoned the regional block of Valle del Cauca and the Pacific, formed by the productive sector unions of the region, mayors, senators and representatives to the Chamber, governors, boards of directors of the departmental Assembly, the municipal Council and directors of institutes, to join in a common purpose called COP16 Colombia.
The Minister called on this large bloc that is being consolidated today to tune into a goal that materializes strong actions to protect the country's biodiversity and to be a world reference: “in countries like Colombia we spend our time in cycles of debt and dependence on the export of raw materials, this is an economic reality that we have to turn around. That is why I am meeting today with the Congress and the productive sector of the region to tune in together in this political struggle and in the search for better opportunities for the country, the region and the protection of our biodiversity”..
In her presentation she explained in detail the key points that justify the importance of Colombia hosting this Summit and revealed several of the technical aspects that will frame the negotiation between the more than 190 countries that will meet at this event.
Before the unions Minister Muhamad revealed several of the development opportunities that this event will bring: “We have immense business opportunities on several fronts, such as international contacts and scientific knowledge. The most important productive sectors of the world will be in Cali and the most significant advances in science related to environmental conservation will be presented”.
The call was to all the Regional and Pacific Block to join all efforts to ensure that the event is a success and that a COP of the people is consolidated, n which citizen participation is at the core of the dialogues, promoting environmental but also social progress in the country.
“We are going to organize the Catalyzing Committee, with which the university, the Inter-industry Committee and regional stakeholders will define the strategic opportunities to make the most of the benefits brought by COP16 in the region. We should not wait for the Summit to take place, but rather we should have a proposal to receive representatives from all the countries, to be able to make alliances. I believe there is a great willingness to take advantage of the COP, strategically for the region and the Pacific”, concluded Minister Susana Muhamad.
The event was attended by the Mayor of Cali, Alejandro Eder, the director of the National Planning Department, Alexander López, the president of the Regional Block and Congressmen of Valle del Cauca, Julián David López, the executive president of the Chamber of Commerce of Cali, Luis Fernando Pérez, the general secretary of the Government of Valle del Cauca, María Leonor Cabal, as well as representatives of the Administrative and Planning Regions of the Pacific, the Colombian Association of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, academic communities, directors of research institutes, senators, representatives to the House of Representatives, among others.
The head of the Environment portfolio, initiated a route of alliances throughout the country, for actors and citizens to the COP16 purpose and its objective of consolidating actions around making peace with nature.
Some key issues of the negotiation
- Prioritize the conservation of plant species, wildlife, invasive alien species, marine and coastal biodiversity, living modified organisms and synthetic biology.
- Address biodiversity from the perspective of climate change, culture and health.
- Strengthen cooperation with other conventions and international organizations.
- Address the sharing of benefits derived from the use of digital information on genetic sequences.
- Mobilize resources and financial mechanisms for the implementation of biodiversity targets.
- together with indigenous peoples and local communities. Work
- Implement, monitor and follow up on the Global Biodiversity Framework targets.
About COP16 on Biodiversity
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is an international treaty adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and entered into force in 1993, with the aim of conserving biological diversity, pursuing sustainable use and ensuring the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources.
The Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity, or the Biodiversity COP, is held every two years and brings together representatives of 196 Parties to the Convention, as well as intergovernmental organisations, non-governmental organisations, civil society, indigenous peoples and local communities and other relevant stakeholders.
The COP is an international space to establish agendas, commitments and frameworks for action in relation to the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services, and to address challenges such as the climate crisis, loss of natural habitats, overexploitation of natural resources, among others. COP16 will take place in Cali, Colombia, between 21 October and 1 November 2024.