COP16: What is biodiversity and how are we protecting it?

There are 23 more specific targets for 2030, including mechanisms to finance conservation projects in biodiversity hotspots. Governments and private organisations are pledging to give at least $200bn (£161bn) per year by 2030.

As part of this richer countries have promised to increase the amount of money they give to poorer countries for biodiversity projects to $30bn per year by 2030.

Although the 2022 framework was not legally binding, external, signatories committed to demonstrating progress towards meeting biodiversity targets.

What is COP 16?

From 21 October until 1 November, delegates are meeting in Cali, Colombia to take stock of national pledges to protect nature, amid concerns countries are back-sliding on their promises.

Recent analysis suggests, external most countries are set to miss the deadline to submit new national action plans for preserving nature.

Key issues include the scale of ambition in meeting specific targets, finance for biodiversity projects in poorer countries and making sure profits from genetic resources are shared fairly.

Colombian environment minister, Susana Muhamad, who is overseeing the meeting, has set the theme, ‘Peace with Nature’, a call to rethink our relationship with the natural world.

Several presidents are expected to attend, including Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Mexico’s incoming president, Claudia Sheinbaum.