As the UN's COP16 biodiversity summit kicked off in Cali, Colombia, leaders and delegates from nearly 200 nations sounded the alarm: the world needs billions, not millions, to stop nature's rapid decline. 🌍
COP16 President Susana Muhamad called for urgent action, stating: 'The planet doesn’t have time to lose.' With the landmark 2022 Kunming-Montreal agreement aiming to mobilize $200 billion annually by 2030, current funding falls far short. The Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, launched last year, has only raised millions so far—a fraction of what’s needed.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned delegates via video that the world is 'offtrack' to meet conservation goals. Brazil’s lead negotiator André Corrêa do Lago highlighted concerns about developing nations taking on more debt to fund green efforts, urging wealthy countries to step up.
Key agenda items at COP16 include boosting Indigenous communities’ role in conservation and creating fair systems for sharing genetic resources. 💬 'This isn’t just about money—it’s about survival,' Muhamad added, rallying delegates to turn pledges into action.
