WCS at CBD CoP16
Cali, Colombia
October 21–November 1, 2024
Quick Links
WCS is calling for ambitious outcomes at CBD CoP16, including decisions that demonstrate political will to tackle our interlinked planetary crises through the KM-GBF.
- Biodiversity: Parties incorporate ecological integrity into their National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and associated national targets that contribute to achievement of the GBF 2030 and 2050 objectives.
- Climate: Parties recognize ecological integrity as critical to climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, and call for greater effort within UNFCCC.
- Health: Parties adopt a Global Action Plan centered on One Health approaches and recognize the diverse links between ecological integrity and human health.
- The GBF: Parties should commit to implementation of national targets and NBSAPs, and build mechanisms for progress on finance and global reviews of implementation.
"An opportunity to evaluate progress"
Ecological Integrity: Central to the Global Biodiversity Framework and the UNFCCC Paris Agreement
The interlinked global crises of biodiversity loss, climate change, and threats to human and wildlife health are continuing to accelerate, posing existential threats to biodiversity and human well-being, and undermining efforts to implement the Global Biodiversity Framework. Maintaining and improving ecological integrity–structure, composition, and function–is central to addressing all three of these crises.
The Global Conservation Community Prepares for Action on Biodiversity Protection in Colombia
Listen as we speak with CBD Deputy Executive Secretary David Cooper to learn more about what brings the conservation community to Latin America and what it hopes to achieve there.
In Colombia, Making “Peace with Nature”
Members of WCS’s COP16 delegation (Dr. Susan Lieberman, Catalina Gutierrez, and Jose Luis Gomez) share thoughts on the meeting and what the organization's priorities will be.
The United States is one of only 2 UN Member States that is actually not a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity. But over the years, says Kelly Aylward, WCS’s Executive Director of Federal Affairs and Policy, it has been successful at driving ambition in policy, action, and nature finance pledges.
Time for Urgent Action on Biodiversity in Colombia
Although it seems bleak, writes WCS's Dr. Susan Lieberman for PBS Nature, vast areas on our planet remain that evince high ecological integrity—functioning as they should and helping to mitigate climate change; they must be conserved.
Pressure Grows for Countries to Deliver on Targets
We see progress on reaching the goals of the Global Biodiversity Framework, WCS's Dr. Susan Lieberman tells the Associated Press. Finance remains an obstacle for some.
Act Now
Global coral bleaching event expands
COP 16 will bring together the global funding community, WCS's Dr. Emily Darling tells Reuters, "to say we’re still in the fourth bleaching event, these are happening back to back. …. What are we going to do about it?”
Act NowCanada
Target One of the Global Biodiversity Framework calls on countries to plan and manage all areas to reduce biodiversity loss. WCS Canada’s scientific research in some of Canada’s most remote landscapes supports proactive conservation policy development, land-use planning and education across the country. In the Arctic, for instance, our team is working on the impact of marine shipping/ocean noise on marine mammals and making recommendations on the Northwest Passage shipping corridor. In addition, our Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) program enables biodiversity conservation to be more easily integrated into planning and management decisions. KBAs are already being used in the country's most foundational policy strategies, including the National Biodiversity Strategy and Environment & Climate Change Canada Protected Areas Strategy.
This program supports the 30x30 goal, as well. KBAs can guide where 30x30 can be implemented for greatest impact—namely in areas that are important for biodiversity and ecosystem function. On 30x30, and safeguarding ecological integrity, WCS Canada is also supporting the identification and development of Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) and regional planning processes in the Ontario Northern Boreal (e.g. North French River Watershed), Yukon, and the Western Arctic.
Video from WCS Canada
"Playing our part to achieve this vision"
Philippines
In June, the Philippines, supported by WCS and others, held a two-day event on the National Coral Reef Program, which aims to create policies on Philippine coral reef conservation and management. This is in line with the GBF’s mandate to identify and protect high-integrity ecosystems.
“How do we balance conservation with food security and sustained income, especially for the most vulnerable populations?” asked WCS Philippines Country Director Kate Lim at the event. “How do we plan for future climate change scenarios and support our kapwa Pilipino (neighbors) when many of us live paycheck to paycheck? These are practical questions that we must remember as we continue our discussions on strengthening efforts to protect coral reefs.”
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WCS Philippines Country Director Kate Lim speaks at event for National Coral Reef Program.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Meet WCS Colombia’s Catalina Gutierrez
As Country Director, Catalina’s role is to lead a team of 80 experts, making measurable impacts for people and animals. Right now, she says, everyone is talking about biodiversity and hosting this event.
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