adelphi at the UN Biodiversity Conference 2024 (COP16)

Event at the sidelines of COP16:

• 24 October 2024: 18:00 - 20:30
  Berlin Climate and Security Conference - Cali edition (BCSC-Cali)
  Where: Hotel Sonesta Cali
  Participation: Invitation only
  BCSC-Cali 2024 will convene key thought leaders and actors over a working dinner to help inform Latin-American and Caribbean perspectives to coordinate the climate and biodiversity agendas through a peace lens, as well as to explore interests in investing in fragile and conflict-affected countries. It will build on the concept of "Peace with nature" developed within the Biodiversity COP16 and feed into the debate on what a dedicated "Peace Day" at COP29 and COP30 could entail.
   
  Keynote speech:Carlos Gabriel Ruiz Massieu Aguirre  UN Head of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia.
  
  Speakers:
  • Monica Amador-Jimenez — Advisor to the Office of the Minister of Environment, Peace and Human Rights. Focal Point for Peace COP16, Ministry of Environment, Colombia
  • Joseph Ronald Toussaint — Chief of Staff, Ministry of Environment, Haiti
  • Johanna Durán Gómez — Director, Fundación Mujer y Futuro
  • Giovanna Kuele — Program Manager for International Cooperation, Igarapé Institute
  • Julia Gorricho — Programme Coordinator, Lead on Environmental and Social Safeguards, Blue Action Fund
  
  Moderator:Héctor Morales Muñoz — Senior Advisor on Climate Diplomacy and Security, adelphi

Official COP side events: 

• 28 October, 10:30 - 13:30
  Research Roadmap: Biodiversity and Climate Action for Environmental Peacebuilding
  Where: Blue Zone, CGIAR Pavillion
  As biodiversity loss, climate change and conflict become increasingly intertwined, there is an urgent need for research that explores the synergies between environmental sustainability and peacebuilding. This side event at COP16 will bring together leading researchers to examine the latest findings on how biodiversity conservation and climate action can support peace and resilience in regions affected by conflict and vulnerable to climate change.
  
  The session will present cutting-edge research investigating the role of biodiversity and ecosystem services in conflict prevention, mitigation and recovery. Through real-world case studies, participants will explore the ways in which conservation and climate adaptation efforts foster cooperation and stability.

• 29 October 2024, 12:30 - 14:30
  Protecting Biodiversity andBuilding Peace: Experiences from Latin America, Africa and Asia
  Where: UN Pavillion, Blue Zone
  Organizers: United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia (UNVMC), UNDP Colombia and the Climate Security Mechanism (DPPA, UNDP, UNEP and DPO).
  Livestream: available here.
  This roundtable aims to identify best practices and lessons learned for building peace among people and peacebuilding with nature, based on the experiences of Colombia, Guatemala, Liberia and the Philippines. It will convene technical negotiation teams, representatives of countries in conflict and with high biodiversity, environmental leaders, cooperation agencies and members of the United Nations System. 
  
  Key conceptual note on peace with nature: Héctor Camilo Morales Muñoz — Senior Advisor at adelphi
  
  Speakers:
  • Carlos Gabriel Ruiz Massieu Aguirre —  UN Head of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia
  • Sara Ferrer — Resident Representative at UNDP Colombia
  • Vera Grabe Loewenher — Former Member of the Senate of Colombia
  • Jimena Puyana — National manager of environment and sustainable development at UNDP Colombia
  • Rodrigo Botero — Director Tat Foundation for Conservation and Sustainable Development (FCDS)
  • Ali Kaba — Candidate and Adjunct Professor (School of International Service) at American University
  • Dr. Eddie Quitoriano — Senior Advisor to the Asia Conflict and Climate Action Council and Senior Consultant at Visus Consulting
  • Grecia López — Member of the Women's Coordinating Team of the Plataforma de Género de ACOFOP
  • Lyes Ferroukhi — Regional Team Leader Nature Climate and Energy in LAC at UNDP
  
  Moderator: María Alejandra Villamizar — Journalist

• 29 October 2024, 14:00 - 14:45
  Inclusive Conservation: Key for Advancing Peacebuilding and Social Cohesion in the Global South
  Where: Green Zone, Auditorio principal de Cali, Centro cultural de Cali, Carrera 5 con calle 7
  Participation: Upon registration
  Hosts: adelphi, Environmental Peacebuilding Association, Community of Practice on Environment, Climate, Conflict, and Peace (ECCP) / Peace@CBD
  This event aims to foster a rich dialogue on the critical intersection of biodiversity conservation and peacebuilding. It will provide valuable insights and actionable strategies to be discussed and implemented after COP 16 on Biodiversity in Colombia to strengthen a global coalition of peace with nature. 
  
  Among others the event aims to explore the potential for coordinated biodiversity policies and strategies that promote inclusive conservation to foster peacebuilding and social cohesion. It will highlight how nature and biodiversity are utilized as platforms for peace and reconciliation in the Global South, focusing on case studies from Colombia, Ethiopia, South Africa and others.
  
  Speakers:
  • Dr. Julia Gorricho (Blue Action Fund) - South Africa
  • Héctor Morales Muñoz (adelphi) – Colombia
  • Mitiku Haile (Tropenbos) –  Ethiopia
  
  Moderator: Tim Stork (Tilburg University)
  
  Please note that this event will be held in person  and in English.

CBD Biodiversity (COP16)

Conceived as a practical tool for translating the principles of Agenda 21 into reality, the Convention recognizes that biological diversity is about more than plants, animals and micro organisms and their ecosystems – it is about people and our need for food security, medicines, fresh air and water, shelter, and a clean and healthy environment in which to live.

This year's Conference encompasses the Sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 16), the Eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and the Fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization. It will include a high-level ministerial segment. 

COP 16 will be the first Biodiversity COP since the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework at COP 15 in December 2022 in Montreal, Canada.

At COP 16, governments will be tasked with reviewing the state of implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Parties to the Convention are expected to show the alignment of their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) with the Framework. COP 16 will further develop the monitoring framework and advance resource mobilization for the Global Biodiversity Framework. Among other tasks, COP 16 is also due to finalize and operationalize the multilateral mechanism on the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources.

Canada was the last country to host the Biodiversity Summit, in December 2022, along with China, who, as the COP 15 Presidency, chaired the meeting. COP15 ended with a historic agreement to guide global action for nature towards 2030 following the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This plan includes concrete actions to halt and reverse the loss of nature, including protecting 30% of the planet and restoring 30% of degraded ecosystems.

More information

This description was adapted from cbd.int