data jungle adventures

Concerns around biodiversity are growing in a world where climate change is not a distant threat anymore but a reality. The international community is increasing its focus on biodiversity conservation.

Convention on Biological Diversity

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), ratified by 196 countries, is one of three conventions established at the UN Rio Earth Summit 1992. ​ It has three main objectives:

• the conservation of biological diversity,
• the sustainable use of its components,
• and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of genetic resources. ​ ​

The Conference of Parties (COP) is the governing body of the CBD, meeting every two years to review progress, set priorities, and commit to work plans. ​ The COP aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss and put it on a path to recovery by 2030. ​ Notable milestones include the 20 Aichi Targets (2010-2020) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) established at COP15 in 2022, which includes 23 targets and four long-term goals for 2050.

Key Topics of COP16 2024 in Cali

Gathered on the 16th reunion of COP in November 2024, the outcomes of the reunion revolve around several domains.

For Financing the Transition

There was no agreement on how to raise the additional $200 billion needed annually by 2030. ​The $20 billion committed by parties at COP15 has yet to materialise, with nearly $400 million pledged by 11 donor countries and the Government of Quebec. ​

On the Cali Fund side, the establishment of sharing benefits from digital sequencing information (DSI) through voluntary contributions

​The aim here is to target larger companies in industries like pharmaceuticals, health/supplements, cosmetics, biotechnology, and animal and plant breeding. Users of DSI are encouraged to contribute 1% of their profits or 0.1% of their revenue, potentially raising $1 billion annually. ​

For Data & Metrics

Various tools and examples for metrics data and NPIs were promoted, and the State of Nature metrics consultation paper was shared. ​

On the Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs)

There was an agreement to revamp the identification and mapping of EBSAs to support planning and management across all sectors. ​

In reporting & disclosure

Over 500 companies have committed to disclosing their nature-related issues publicly using the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). ​129 financial institutions, including 25% of systemically important banks, have also committed. ​And the TNFD is being incorporated into wider sustainability frameworks and mandatory reporting, such as the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). ​Meanwhile, China requires stock exchange-listed companies to disclose nature-related issues.

Assuring a healthy biodiversity on multiple scales (local, regional, and international) requires cooperation on all scales. The Conference of Parties meeting fosters cooperation.