The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), held from October 21 to November 1, 2024, in Cali, Colombia, brought together over 10,000 global participants to address the urgent biodiversity crisis, as over one million species face extinction.
The Conference encompassed 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 also included a high-level ministerial segment.
During the conference, the Biodiversity Law and Governance Initiative (BLGI), a coalition of over 200 organizations, convened Biodiversity Law & Governance Day 2024. With more than 2,000 participants, the event featured discussions emphasizing the importance of strong biodiversity governance and sustainable practices to halt biodiversity loss and adopt measures aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Organized by the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL) and partner universities, with guidance from leaders at the CBD Secretariat (SCBD), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Union for Conservation of Nature World Commission on Environmental Law (IUCN-WCEL), the International Development Law Organization (IDLO), and other key organizations, BLGD 2024 provided a platform for Parties, UN bodies and agencies, intergovernmental organizations, academia, the private sector, and civil society to collaborate and foster a growing global community of practice in biodiversity law and governance.
This event built upon the successes of previous editions, including the inaugural 2016 BLGD in Cancun (CBD COP13), the 2018 BLGD in Sharm-El-Sheikh (CBD COP14), and the 2022 BLGD in Montreal (CBD COP15).
BLGD 2024 addressed three primary themes central to advancing biodiversity governance globally:
- Advancing Legal Frameworks under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: Experts discussed how national and international biodiversity laws can be aligned with the Framework to drive effective conservation strategies. The theme emphasized incorporating Indigenous laws and values and adopting new governance approaches that respect nature’s diverse cultural and ecological significance.
- Enhancing Nature-Based Solutions and Treaty Synergies: Sessions highlighted the critical role of nature-based solutions in biodiversity conservation and the need for stronger cooperation across treaties, including CITES, the Ramsar Convention, and the UNFCCC. Participants explored how treaty interactions, Indigenous treaties, and ecological rights, such as granting legal standing to rivers, can contribute to global biodiversity objectives.
- Strengthening the Nagoya Protocol and Addressing Genetic Information: This theme examined the challenges and opportunities of Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) agreements, particularly regarding Digital Sequence Information (DSI). Experts addressed policy options to ensure equitable and fair ABS agreements and highlighted the importance of Indigenous peoples’ roles and traditional knowledge in genetic resource governance.
BLGD 2024 provided a platform for cross-sectoral knowledge exchange, aimed at building capacity within the biodiversity law and governance community to implement COP16 outcomes and advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By fostering new partnerships and promoting innovative legal solutions, the event reinforced global efforts to address biodiversity loss and drive sustainable development forward.