MEPs discussed COP16 on biodiversity during a plenary session debate on Monday 25 November.
The Vice-President of the European Commission, Margaritis Schinás, welcomed the progress made in Cali, Colombia, including the adoption of revised national biodiversity strategies by the 44 parties present. Welcoming the creation of the Cali Fund (see EUROPE 13517/15), which should enable biodiversity projects to be financed equitably, and the future inclusion of indigenous communities in decision-making, Mr Schinás regretted the absence of an agreement on financing.
The departure of many parties at the end of the COP prevented a final vote. The EU now expects the COP to resume “early next year”.
On financing. “We Socialists don’t care how, whether in a new fund or in the Global Environment Facility, but the necessary resources must be mobilised”, said César Luena (S&D, Spanish), who headed the European Parliament delegation in Cali.
According to Sérgio Humberto (EPP, Portuguese), the major economies, the emerging economies, including major polluters “such as India”, and “those that are not yet part of them, such as the United States” must be involved.
The EU must set an example. The rapporteurs from the Greens/EFA, Renew Europe and The Left were more critical. On behalf of the Greens/EFA, German MEP Jutta Paulus noted that “no significant progress” had been made at COP16.
Michal Wiezik (Renew Europe, Croatian) took the opportunity to point out the EU’s procrastination on regulations on nature restoration and imported deforestation, “at a time when we are experiencing a 73% decline in wildlife populations”. (Original version in French by Florent Servia)