Unified action needed on biodiversity and climate change

What: UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16) 

When: 21 October- 1 November 2024 

Where: Cali, Colombia

As global leaders and environmental experts gather for the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) is calling for strong international collaboration to prioritise and tackle the interconnected, and accelerating, crises of biodiversity loss and climate change.  

"We can’t solve either the climate crisis or biodiversity loss without addressing the other," said Matt Collis, IFAW’s Senior Director of Policy. "COP16 is a pivotal moment to ensure that national and international efforts to protect biodiversity and combat climate change work in tandem, laying the groundwork for the future." 

As the first of the intrinsically linked Rio Convention COPs in 2024, COP16 is well-positioned to set the tone for upcoming international environmental negotiations. Next year’s landmark United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) COP30 will require all countries update their national plans to tackle climate change. 

The 2023 COP28 Joint Statement on Climate, Nature, and People—signed by the presidencies of the Rio Conventions and various global coalitions—has already outlined the importance of a unified approach. IFAW urges the Parties at COP16 to ensure that these commitments are reflected in the final outcomes of the summit, including the high-level segment and the Cali Declaration.  

Aligned with this is the protection of marine and coastal biodiversity, a vital asset for both wildlife and humanity. Marine ecosystems not only support vast biodiversity but also play an essential role in regulating the Earth’s climate by absorbing carbon and stabilising weather patterns. Despite their importance, these ecosystems are increasingly threatened by human activity and the effects of climate change. 

"Healthy oceans are the foundation of a healthy planet. They absorb carbon, mitigate climate impacts, and support rich biodiversity," said Collis. "COP16 must prioritise the protection of marine ecosystems to ensure that they continue to provide these critical services in the face of escalating climate pressures." 

"Time is running out to tackle the intertwined crises of biodiversity loss and climate change, but COP16 offers hope," said Collis. "By ensuring that biodiversity and climate efforts are aligned at every level, we can make meaningful progress. The future of our planet depends on it." 

IFAW’s official side event, "Leveraging wildlife conservation and rewilding to supercharge climate mitigation and adaptation," on Thursday, October 24, at 16:30pm COT, will explore the critical role wildlife plays in helping us fight climate change and see the launch by IFAW of new guidelines to support governments integrating wildlife conservation into their climate plans. More details can be found at https://www.cbd.int/side-events/5723.

IFAW experts available: 

• Matt Collis, Senior Director of Policy 
• Simon Addison, Climate Change Advisor 
• Jimmiel Mandima, Vice President of Global Programs 
• Joaquin de la Torre Ponce, Regional Representative, Latin America (English, Spanish) 
• Barbara Slee, Senior Program Manager, Policy (Dutch, English, Spanish, French) 

For more information or to arrange interviews with IFAW’s experts in Cali, please contact Stacey Hedman at shedman@ifaw.org or +1 508 737 2558. 

More information and the agenda for CBD COP16 can be found here: https://www.cbd.int/conferences/2024