16th Meeting of the CBD COP Held in Cali, Colombia

Current Context: The 16th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was held in Cali, Colombia, from October 21 to November 1, 2024.

• The theme of the meeting was "Peace with Nature".
• The meeting was chaired by Colombian President Gustavo Petro and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres also participated via video.
• Key Highlights:
• Adoption of Landmark Agreements: The meeting adopted several landmark agreements, including the first-ever recognition of Indigenous Peoples and people of African descent as key drivers in conserving nature.
• Operationalization of the Global Mechanism: Delegates agreed on the operationalization of a new global mechanism to share benefits from digital genetic information (DSI), including the establishment of the "Cali Fund".
• Focus on Indigenous Contributions: The meeting emphasized the contributions of Indigenous Peoples and local communities as custodians of biodiversity and key partners in its conservation.
• High-Level Segment: Almost 100 ministers attended the High-Level Segment (October 29-30), working to wrap up negotiations and demonstrate progress in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF.

Question:

1 What was the theme of COP-16 to the Convention on Biological Diversity?

• A) Biodiversity and Climate Change
• B) Peace with Nature
• C) Protecting Marine Ecosystems
• D) Sustainability for Future Generations

Answer: B) The theme for COP-16 was "Peace with Nature," emphasizing harmony and cooperative efforts between human societies and biodiversity conservation.