Last October, our fellow BAE Rasara Nandasena had the incredible opportunity to attend the 16th Conference of Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Cali, Colombia. Known as the Biodiversity or CBD COP, this global conference focused on the implementation and progress of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), which was adopted at COP15 in Montreal, Canada. Rasara’s participation was fully funded by the Global Youth Biodiversity Network, and we’re thrilled to share her story at COP16 with passionate advocates and young changemakers.
" Attending COP16 was an incredible and unforgettable experience. As my first-ever COP, it was both eye-opening and overwhelming. I had the privilege of participating in dynamic sessions, events, and discussions on biodiversity and interdisciplinary topics. One of the most enriching aspects was meeting people from diverse backgrounds, local communities, indigenous groups, and global experts.”
The conference had two main zones: the Green Zone and the Blue Zone. The Green Zone was open to the public, providing a space for discussions and idea exchanges for those passionate about biodiversity. The Blue Zone served as the conference’s core, accessible only to accredited participants. This was where working groups and contact groups collaborated on policy documents commenting, debating, and striving to reach agreements.
The conference also featured thematic pavilions, such as the Youth Pavilion, which highlighted youth advocacy activities, and the Indigenous Communities Pavilion, which provided a platform for indigenous voices to lead discussions on biodiversity conservation.
“I had the opportunity to observe and participate in some of the events gaining invaluable insight into the negotiation process and the effort required to shape meaningful policies. As a representative from Global Youth Biodiversity Network I helped tracking policy documents throughout and supported organising and conducting unofficial side events (Youth Summit). It was a remarkable learning opportunity for me!”
One major highlight was the increased visibility of youth voices at COP16. Young advocates presented their priorities and statements, ensuring their concerns were represented in the larger biodiversity agenda. Similarly, indigenous groups brought invaluable knowledge and sustainable practices to the discussions. Progress was made on policy drafts aligned with the Kunming-Montreal framework, particularly regarding mechanisms for biodiversity funding and accountability. Moreover, it was agreed to establish a fund Called Cali fund to share the benefits from the profits grained from digital sequence information.
However, negotiations were slow, often bogged down by the complexity of reaching consensus among diverse stakeholders. Many delegates expressed frustration with the lack of urgency, especially as biodiversity continues to decline at alarming rates. Furthermore, there was no adequate capacity to support the large number of delegates at COP, Some accommodation were far from the conference venue making it tedious for the delegates to travel to the venue. Many Asian countries had to struggle with passport issues and undertake long flight journeys to visit to Columbia due to the nature of the flight journeys to Colombia with lot of transits.
Attending COP16 was a transformative journey that reinforced Rasara’s commitment to advocating for nature. It underscored the urgent need for global collaboration and inclusivity to tackle the biodiversity crisis.
“Exploring the vibrant city of Cali further enriched my experience. The city’s lively culture and landscapes were breathtaking. People in Cali were heartwarming! "
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