World leaders gather at COP16 to address biodiversity crisis amid lagging commitments
As nearly 200 nations convene for the two-week U.N. biodiversity summit, COP16, a pressing question looms: Can the world course-correct to meet the ambitious goals set out in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework?
Two years after committing to halt the destruction of nature by the decade’s end, countries are falling behind on their biodiversity action plans. With a record 23,000 delegates registered, this summit marks the largest gathering to address the ongoing crisis.
Gavin Edwards, director of the nonprofit Nature Positive, emphasized the urgency: “COP16 is an opportunity to re-energize and remind everybody of their commitments two years ago.” He highlighted the pressing need for a course correction if the 2030 targets are to be met.
Despite the urgency, the destruction of ecosystems through logging, overfishing, and other human activities continues unabated. As of now, only 31 out of 195 nations have submitted their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), well below expectations. Richer nations like those in Europe, Australia, and Canada have been quicker to comply, while the United States, having never ratified the Convention on Biodiversity, is not obligated to submit a plan.
Environment Minister Susana Muhamad, president of COP16, pointed out the barriers many nations face: “It could be that the funds are not enough… Countries with newly elected governments may still be getting up to speed.” The challenge is particularly acute for poorer nations, which struggle to secure the funding and expertise necessary to develop comprehensive biodiversity plans.
A key focus of the summit will be securing new funding sources for conservation, particularly for developing countries. At COP15 in 2022, negotiators aimed to raise $20 billion annually by 2025 to support biodiversity efforts. However, recent data indicates that the existing funding of $15.4 billion per year has not seen significant increases, raising concerns about the feasibility of the new target.
“New money announced since COP15 is pretty thin,” noted Brian O’Donnell from the Campaign for Nature. Compounding these challenges, the newly established Global Biodiversity Framework Fund has seen minimal contributions, with only $238 million collected to date.
As discussions unfold, Muhamad urged nations to integrate their biodiversity plans with climate action strategies, noting the interconnectedness of these crises. With global warming causing unprecedented ocean temperatures and significant coral bleaching events, the urgency for a coordinated approach has never been more apparent.
“The final indicator really is what’s the reality of biodiversity loss,” she said. “We are not better off now than we were two years ago.”
As COP16 progresses, the world watches closely to see if nations can commit to bold actions that will revitalize efforts to protect the planet’s biodiversity before it is too late.
