Today, COP-16 is opening for discussion in Columbia. From 21 October to 1 November 2024, more than 1800 participants worldwide came to Cali City to discuss biodiversity conservation.

COP is the Conference of the Parties, the supreme decision-making body of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was signed by leaders of 150 countries at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. This convention promotes sustainable development through a vision that involves ecosystems and people. It was held from 1992 until 2022 when a consensus was reached on adopting the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in COP-15.

It is the first biodiversity conference under the theme Peace with Nature since the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted at COP 15 in December 2022 in Montreal, Canada. Parties to the Convention are expected to show that their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) align with the Framework.

COP 16 will develop the monitoring framework and advance resource mobilization for the Global Biodiversity Framework. It will also finalize and operationalize the multilateral mechanism for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits using digital sequence information on genetic resources.

Key objectives of the Conference of the Parties;

• Review the Implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and review updated National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).

• Review of the implementation of the new framework COP16 will be a crucial moment for governments to review the implementation of the new framework through the NBSAPs.

• Development of the monitoring framework. COP16 is expected to develop the monitoring framework further and continue to make progress in mobilizing resources for implementing the Global Framework.

• Multilateral mechanism on fair and equitable benefit sharing. COP16 should finalize and operationalize a multilateral mechanism for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits using digital sequence information on genetic resources.

How is CYN involved in COP-16? Mr. Heng Kimhong, president of CYN, is attending this COP-16, and he will speak at some site events and network with some global partners during the conference.

Website to learn more about COP-16 in Columbia: COP16 Colombia inauguración | COP16 Colombia

Media Article in Khmer: https://youtu.be/2yo2KaY6KQM?si=WeX2gKn39KFYvGPJ