GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION: ENVIRONMENT

GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION: ENVIRONMENT

NEWS: An annual United Nations conference on biodiversity that ran out of time last year will resume its work Tuesday in Rome with money at the top of the agenda.

 

WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?

The United Nations’ annual biodiversity conference (COP16) resumed in Rome after being paused last year due to time constraints.The primary focus is on mobilizing financial resources for effective biodiversity conservation.The ‘Cali Fund’ was launched in February 2025 at COP16 to support global biodiversity efforts.

 

United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16) Resumes in Rome

Background

  • The discussions build upon the COP15 Montreal Agreement (2022), which set 23 goals, including the 30×30 target—protecting 30% of the planet and 30% of degraded ecosystems by 2030.
  • The unfinished agenda from COP16 in Cali is now being addressed in Rome, with emphasis on funding mechanisms and implementation strategies.
  • A 2023 WWF & Zoological Society of London report revealed that global wildlife populations have declined by 73% in the past 50 years.

 

Objectives of the Rome Talks

Finalizing Financial Commitments

  • Determining how pledged funds will be utilized.
  • Establishing a global biodiversity financing mechanism.
  • Raising additional funds to meet biodiversity conservation goals.

 

Strengthening Indigenous and Local Community Involvement

  • Ensuring fair distribution of financial resources.
  • Recognizing the role of Indigenous communities in conservation.

 

Developing a Monitoring and Reporting Framework

  • Setting clear guidelines for tracking progress on the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
  • Implementing accountability measures for conservation commitments.

 

Cali Fund

  • The Cali Fund aims to collect money from private companies that use Digital Sequence Information (DSI) from plants, animals, and microorganisms.
  • Industries required to contribute: Pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, agriculture, and biotechnology.
  • Funds will be allocated to biodiversity conservation projects, particularly in developing countries.
  • At least 50% of funds will go to Indigenous and local communities for conservation efforts.
  • This is the first global biodiversity fund under the UN to receive direct business contributions.
  • Oversight & Administration:
  • Managed by UNDP and UNEP.
  • Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTFO) will handle administrative tasks.
  • Aims to support the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) goal of halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030.

 

Digital Sequence Information (DSI)

  • Definition: Digital data derived from genetic resources, including DNA, RNA nucleotide sequences, and amino acid sequences of proteins.
  • Applications:
  • Environmental & Biological research
  • Pharmaceutical development
  • Agriculture & Biotechnology
  • Development of new therapies and bioenergy solutions

 

COP16 Summit

  • 16th meeting under the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
  • Focus on ensuring countries meet 2030 targets, including the 30 by 30 goal (protecting 30% of land and sea by 2030).
  • Only 31 out of 195 countries have submitted biodiversity action plans.
  • Wealthier nations (Europe, Australia, Japan, Canada) have been more proactive.
  • The U.S. attends but is not obligated to submit a plan, as it never ratified the Convention.

 

Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF)

  • Established after COP15 to finance biodiversity conservation.
  • Only $238 million has been raised so far, falling short of expectations.

 

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

  • A multilateral treaty with three main objectives:
    1. Conservation of biological diversity
    2. Sustainable use of biodiversity components
    3. Fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources
  • Opened for signature: June 5, 1992 (Earth Summit, Rio de Janeiro).
  • Entered into force: December 29, 1993.
  • The United States is the only UN member state that has not ratified the convention.

 

Supplementary Agreements

  1. Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
    • Governs the movement of living modified organisms (LMOs) across countries.
  1. Nagoya Protocol
    • Focuses on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits (ABS).

 

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/global-warming/in-rome-talks-to-protect-earths-biodiversity-resume-with-money-topping-the-agenda/articleshow/118544785.cms