After failing in November 2024 in Cali, Colombia, due to the lack of a quorum to agree on financing (see EUROPE 13517/15), COP16 on biodiversity will resume in Rome from 25 to 27 February. The Colombian Presidency of COP16 on biodiversity has submitted a new reflection note with a view to reaching an agreement on the mobilisation of resources.
In Cali last November, COP16 had two objectives: - adopt and finalise a plan to monitor the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal global framework, adopted at COP15 in 2022 (restore 30% of degraded ecosystems, halve global food waste, etc.); - mobilise resources to the tune of at least $200 billion in national and international financing linked to biodiversity by 2030 to achieve targets.
In this amended draft decision, the Colombian Presidency of the COP16 on biodiversity reiterated the need to close the financing gap for biodiversity after 2030, in line with Target D of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. In particular, financial support for the least advanced developing countries will have to be increased.
It was on the architecture to be adopted to achieve this that the stakeholders failed to agree in Cali last November. A majority of developing countries called for the creation of a new dedicated fund, while developed countries were of the view that the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund already existed. Implemented by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), it was set up to finance the objectives of the Kunming-Montreal agreement in 2023.
However, as the GEF is currently acting on an “interim” basis, it is already necessary to develop this fund or create a permanent instrument under the authority of the Conference of the Parties in order to “make it operational by 2030”, the Colombian Presidency summarised. Developing countries are not opposed to changes to the GEF. They recommended a review of its mode of governance. By placing it “under the authority of the Conference of the Parties (COP)”, the developing countries hope to carry more weight.
A compromise could take the form of an intersessional roadmap with a view to COP17, 18 and 19 in order to make progress on the reform of the GEF. The delegations will have three days in Rome to reach an agreement.
See the COP16 Presidency’s reflection note: https://aeur.eu/f/fmv (Original version in French by Florent Servia)