At the resumed sessions of COP16, the CBD Women’s Caucus will issue a critical call for transformative action in resource mobilisation and financial mechanisms underpinning global biodiversity policy. Women and girls—especially those from Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and people of African descent—are indispe: :nsable to biodiversity conservation, yet they remain marginalised in funding processes.

The CBD Women's Caucus emphasises the urgent need for a human rights-based, gender-responsive approach to biodiversity finance, advocating for robust environmental and social safeguards to be enforced as a means to avoid negative impacts from harmful financing schemes. Key demands critical for the women's movement and feminist's organisations include direct access to financial resources for women-led initiatives, dedicated funding for the timely and effective implementation of the Gender Plan of Action (GPA) and Target 23 of the GBF, and reforms to the Global Environment Facility (GEF) to ensure equitable governance and transparent reporting.

This press conference will highlight actionable solutions to close the biodiversity funding gap and empower women as key actors in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Join us to champion justice, equity, and inclusion in the global effort to protect our planet.

cbdwomenscaucus@gmail.com 

coordination@cbdwomenscaucus.org

This event is a formal launch of the Cali Fund for the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits from the Use of Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources, as part of the multilateral mechanism of the same name. This fund is a gamechanger for biodiversity finance, enabling commercial successes relying on the use of data from nature to flow back to nature and the self-determined needs of indigenous peoples and local communities.  

At this press conference, representatives from UNEP, UNDP and the Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office (MPTFO) and Minister Muhamad will come together with the CBD to celebrate this. UNEP, UNDP and the MPTFO will sign a Memorandum of Understanding which will ‘launch’ the Cali Fund, opening the fund and allowing businesses start sending their contributions. 

The event of 45 minutes will allow time to celebrate this success, hear from key organizations and hold a short Q&A session on the Cali Fund.  

Opening Press Conference SBI

Click here to watch

Outlining what to expect at SBI 5 

Speakers:

Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary, CBD

Chirra Achalender Reddy, SBI Chair, India

David Ainsworth,  Public Information Officer,  CBD

Outlining what to expect at COP 16 

Speakers: 

Susana Muhamad

Astrid Schomaker

David Cooper

Speakers: 

Ben Schachter/Nela Cernota (OHCHR, tbc.)

Nadia Sitas/Ashanapuri Hertz/Juanita Chavez (on behalf of the organizing team)

Government of Colombia (on behalf of the participant, tbc.)

Luis Guillermo (ICCA Consortium – participant, tbc.)

Alejandra Duarte (Women4Biodiversity – participant, tbc.)

Speakers: 

Mayor of Cali, Alejandro Eder

Learn how renowned visual artist and activist Benjamin Von Wong brought together his 6m tall Biodiversity Jenga art installation - which features 12 unique ecosystems spread across 33 different blocks. After CBD Executive Secretary Astrid Schomaker delivers a few remarks, Von Wong will share a short presentation on how the Biodiversity Jenga came to life, an exclusive directors cut of the behind the scene documentary, and will feature some of his partners like the non-profit SeaTrees. The press conference will end with a short Q&A of the project, and a 5:30 PM tour at the installation with the artist will ensue. 

Speakers: 

Benjamin Von Wong (Artist)

Kevin Whilden (SeaTrees Founder)

Press conference outlining priorities of the EU for the COP16. And also present relevant EU achievements regarding implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Speakers: 

Mr Hugo-Maria Schally, The chief negotiator of the European Union Delegation 

Dr. Oszkár Ökrös, Deputy State Secretary for International Relations and EU Affairs

What is expected to be announced.: With energy-related extractive industry concessions posing active threats to intact ecosystems, there is a closing window of opportunity to protect the most important areas for nature and climate remaining on Earth. New Earth Insight analysis with partners sheds light on some of the most important places for nature and the extractive threats facing them.

Speaker: 

Tyson Miller

Wetlands International launches an assessment of the extent to which wetlands feature in NBSAPs and national targets published in the run up to COP16. The purpose of this assessment is to provide a picture of how wetlands have been incorporated into NBSAPs so far. By doing so, it will raise awareness of the critical importance of wetland conservation and restoration in implementing the Biodiversity Plan, highlight examples of where countries are embracing this potential, and encourage more ambitious wetland action. 

Speakers: 

Femke Tonneijck, Director of Programme Impact at Wetlands International

Rafaela Nicola, Director, Brazil at Wetlands International

Daniel Blanco, Director, Latin America and the Caribbean at Wetlands International

The Secretariat spokesperson presents the status of agenda items under negotiation from the previous day and makes announcements of upcoming events for the current day.

Speaker: 

David Ainsworth

Civil society and the private sector are driving action for a nature-positive world, rapidly accelerating progress to deliver the Global Biodiversity Framework. Hear examples from different sectors with a focus on Latin America.

Speakers: 

Marco Lambertini, NPI

Linda Krueger, TNC

Dorothy Maseke, ANCA

Erin Billman, SBTN

Rights of Nature articulates a legal framework and economy based on living in balance with Earth’s natural systems. Presenters will share successes from the Rights of Nature movement, and how it can offer a systemic framework for defending biodiversity, communities, and our climate. As one of the fastest growing environmental movements, Rights of Nature recognizes that Earth’s ecosystems have the right to exist and thrive while also uplifting human and Indigenous rights.  

Speakers: 

Casey Camp-Horinek, (Ponca Nation), Ponca Nation Environmental Ambassador and WECAN Board Member and Project Coordinator

Julie Horinek, (Ponca Nation), WECAN Coordinator and Plains Organizer, Movement Rights, Patricia Gualinga, (Kichwa), Spokeswoman for Mujeres Amazónicas Defensoras de la Selva (Amazon Women in Defense of the Jungle) and WECAN Coordinator in Ecuador

Osprey Orielle Lake, Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) Founder and Executive Director

A new and groundbreaking report reveals faith communities worldwide as unexpected heroes in the fight against biodiversity loss. From reforesting the Amazon to protecting endangered species in urban churchyards, religious groups are translating ancient wisdom into cutting-edge conservation. This first-of-its-kind study showcases how spiritual values are driving tangible ecological action, offering a powerful new ally in the race to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Discover how faith is becoming a formidable force for nature in an era of unprecedented environmental challenges.

Speakers

Moderator: Gopal Patel 

Flore Ghetti, Soka Gakkai International 

Bishop Graham, Anglican Communion 

Allen Ottaro, Catholic Youth Network for Sustainability in Africa (CYNESA)

Neddy H. Astudillo, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary 

Maximising synergies: the urgency of prioritising high integrity ecosystems for achieving the goals of the KM-GBF and the Paris Agreement

The gap in understanding of how and where to maximise biodiversity and climate synergies is delaying urgently needed protection of high integrity, carbon-dense ecosystems such as primary forests. It is also delaying action to support Indigenous peoples and their rights, as they play an essential role in protecting high integrity ecosystems around the world. We are therefore missing one of the most holistic, rapid, and cost effective opportunities to address multiple crises together in an integrated and mutually reinforcing manner. This press panel will explain the policy changes that need to happen, including at COP16 so that we can shift finance to support bio-cultural integrity around the world. 

Speakers:

Coreen Child-Yakawilas; Executive Director at the Awina’kole Foundation

Cyril Kormos; Executive Direct at Wild Heritage

An Lambrecht; Biodiversity Policy Expert at Greenpeace International

Fany Kuiru; General Coordinator, Coordinating body of Indigenous Organizations in the Amazon (COICA)

Moderated by Carbon Brief

arick@greenpeace.org

gaby.flores@greenpeace.org

Members of the media are invited to a press conference to launch the Global Ecosystems Atlas, the world’s first comprehensive, open resource dedicated to mapping and monitoring the world’s ecosystems. This groundbreaking resource will provide critical, harmonised spatial ecosystems data to support conservation, restoration and sustainable use of ecosystems.

Speakers: 

Yana Gevorgyan, Secretariat Director, Group on Earth Observations

Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity

Nicoleta Panta, Chief of Partnerships and Communication, Group on Earth Observations (moderator)

Speakers: 

María Constanza García Alicastro
Minister of Transportation

Dilian Francisca Toro
Governor of Valle del Cauca

Álvaro Alejandro Eder Garcés
Mayor of Cali

Paola Andrea Castillo Gutiérrez 
Mayor of Jamundí

Víctor Manuel Ramos Vergara
Mayor of Palmira

Edgar Alexander Ruiz García
Mayor of Yumbo

Juanita Concha Rivera
Director of the Regional Transportation Authority

The Secretariat spokesperson presents the status of agenda items under negotiation from the previous day and makes announcements of upcoming events for the current day.

Speaker: 

David Ainsworth

Emma Ackerley;

 eackerley@wwfint.org

Fisher Peoples, in their diversity as Indigenous peoples, Afro-descendants, local communities, women, girls, and youth, make a joint call for recognition of the need to actively involve fisher peoples and adopt a human rights-based approach to achieve the KMGBF Targets in Coastal and Marine Conservation. To achieve the KMGBF targets in coastal and marine conservation, it is necessary to recognize the centrality of Fisher Peoples to biodiversity conservation success. They are the stewards and caretakers of the ocean, coasts, rivers, and lakes. Yet, the current KMGBF implementation process does not sufficiently involve and guarantee Indigenous and local community small-scale fishers’ human rights and stewardship.

Speakers:

1.  Jesús Chaves,  Costa Rica
2. Minfer Pérez, Colombia
3. Alfonso Simon, Panamá
4. Marta Machazek, Panamá
5. Zoila Bustamante, Chile
6. German Hernández, Honduras
7. Eduardo Mercado, Panamá
8. Aarón Chacón, Costa Rica
9. Lázaro Mecha, Panamá
10. Libia Arcinieges, Colombia
11. Luis Perea, Colombia
12. Julián Medina, Colombia
13. Albert Chang, TICCAS
14. Flavio Lontro,  Brasil, CONFREM/ULAPA
15. Rungrueang Rahmanyah, Thailand

As COP 16 negotiations unfold, join experts and community leaders for an in-depth briefing on the biggest threats facing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Panellists will dissect the risks posed by ineffective biodiversity offsetting and other market-based mechanisms that undermine real conservation efforts, including a gender lens. With the future of global biodiversity at stake, this press conference will highlight the urgent need for negotiators to reject these false solutions and instead embrace transformative and gender-responsive approaches that prioritize ecological integrity, uphold Indigenous and community rights, and ensure a just transition for nature and people.

Speakers: 

Mary Louise Malig, Policy Director, GFC

Souparna Lahiri, Senior Climate and Biodiversity Policy Advisor, GFC

Valentina Figuera Martinez, Gender Justice and Forests Campaign Coordinator, GFC

Andrea Echeverri, Unsustainable Livestock Campaign Coordinator, GFC
 

The Secretariat spokesperson presents the status of agenda items under negotiation from the previous day and makes announcements of upcoming events for the current day.

Speaker: 

David Ainsworth

More than 100 organizations call upon the world leaders at COP16 to demand a strict application of the CBD’s 2008 de facto moratorium on genetically modified (GM) trees and that Brazil immediately withdraw its recent legalization of 9 varieties of GM eucalyptus trees for commercial release.. Brazil’s legalization is a dangerous precedent that threatens to open the door to the widespread commercialization and large-scale release of GM trees across Latin America and around the world. 

Speakers: 

Heather Lee, Global Justice Ecology Project,

Elvis Huni Kui, Federation of the Huni Kai People of the state of Acre (Brazil)

Tom Goldtooth, Indigenous Environmental Network

Dr. Ricarda Steinbrecher, EcoNexus and Federation of German Scientists

Heather@globaljusticeecolgoy.org 

416-795-1981

Civil society members will share insights into the CBD process and why geoengineering is a risk to climate and biodiversity, peoples and communities

Speakers: 

Silvia Ribeiro ETC Group

Mary Church CIEL 

Coraina de la Plaza HOME Alliance

Neha Gupta, comms@handsoffmotherearth.org 

and Ronnie Hall, ronnie@etcgroup.org

Indigenous women leaders from the Amazon and diverse biomes of Brazil will present their calls for biodiversity and climate action at COP16 and going forward through to the UNFCCC COP30. Additionally, there will be a presentation of an Indigenous women-led reforestation project in the Brazilian Amazon and the announcement of toolkits for the Escazú Agreement emphasizing the protection of women land defenders in Brazil.

Speakers: 

National Articulation of Indigenous Women Warriors of Ancestry (ANMIGA) Representatives,Puyr Tembé

Secretary of Indigenous Peoples of the State of Para, Brazil and Co-Founder of ANMIGA (Association of Ancestral Indigenous Women Warriors)

Brazil, Osprey Orielle Lake, Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) Founder and Executive Director

Speakers: 

Juan Pablo Osornio, Engagement Director,  Earth Insight

Oswaldo Muca, Coordinador General,OPIAC

Juan Carlos Lozada, Colombian MP, Parliamentarians for a Fossil Fuel Free Future

Andres Gomez, Coordinator for Latin America and the Caribbean, Fossil Fuel Non Proliferation Treaty

Rainforest Action Network, the Forest & Finance coalition, Movement for Popular Sovereignty in Mining and other CSOs are calling for the UN to stop the promotion of corporate capture initiatives like the controversial Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). The call follows years of work by civil society organizations and networks raising serious concerns about TNFD as a greenwashing risk and distraction from the real solutions to corporate-led biodiversity and human-rights harms.

Speakers: 

Shona Hawkes, Rainforest Action Network, Forests & Finance coalition 

Tarcisio Feitosa da Silva, Goldman Environmental Prize winner

Izabely Miranda, Executive Secretariat of Movement for Popular Sovereignty in Mining

Portuguese translation: Merel van der Mark, Forest and Finance Coalition 

Press Conference with Francia Elena Márquez Mina, Vicepresidente de Colombia

The Secretariat spokesperson presents the status of agenda items under negotiation from the previous day and makes announcements of upcoming events for the current day.

Speaker: 

David Ainsworth

Frontline and Indigenous women leaders and global advocates will present solutions and strategies to tackle the interlinked biodiversity and climate crises, emphasizing the importance of gender equity, food sovereignty, forest protection and reforestation, traditional ecological knowledge, Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), protection of environmental human rights defenders, and financing genuine solutions in the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Speakers:

Helena Gualinga, (Kichwa), Sarayaku Indigenous Youth Climate 

Leader Daiara Tukano, (Tukano), Indigenous activist and artist

Casey Camp-Horinek, (Ponca Nation), Ponca Nation Environmental Ambassador and WECAN Board Member and Project Coordinator

Puyr Tembé, Secretary of Indigenous Peoples of the State of Para, Brazil and Co-Founder of ANMIGA (Association of Ancestral Indigenous Women Warriors), Brazil

Osprey Orielle Lake, Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) Founder and Executive Director

Speakers:

H. E. Susana Muhamad, COP 16 President

Inger Andersen, Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme

Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity

Recent research spanning six countries by UEBT in partnership with UN Biodiversity finds that awareness of biodiversity is its highest ever, with 90% awareness of people ages 16-75 in France, the UK, Brazil and China.  In Germany and the USA more than 75% are aware of biodiversity.  More than 80% can correctly define its meaning.  The public firmly believe they have an active role in conserving biodiversity and that they will be impacted if it personally disappears.  These attitudes are more pronounced among Brazilian and Chinese public and less among the American and British public.  Biodiversity is gaining increasing importance in the minds of consumers. It is recognized as a critical global issue, ranking as the second most urgent concern following climate change, which is decreasing in importance compared to the previous wave.  Related to business actions, more than 80% of consumers want companies to take a stand with the Biodiversity Plan, when told of what it represents, and more than 80% also want companies to tell them tangible actions they can take to reduce consumption and make more sustainable choices (Target in the KMGBF).

Speakers: 

David Ainsworth,

Rik Kutsch Lojenga, UEBT Executive Director

Lara Koritzke

IIFB will present their perspectives on the progress and opportunities presented by COP16 negotiations, and the opportunities to advance the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in the Cali outcomes. 

Speakers: 

Lakpa Nuri Sherpa (TBC)

Ramiro Batzin (TBC)

Lucy Mulenkei (TBC)

Colombian indigenous leader (TBC) 

Speakers: 

Wendel Trio - coordinator Northern Forests and Climate Change project

Jennifer Skene - Global Northern Forests Policy Director, Natural Resources Defense Council

Lina Burnelius - International Coordinator, Protect the Forests Sweden (tbc)

The severity of the global water crisis is known and understood, but the debate on solutions is currently not fit-for-purpose. The Global Commission on the Economics of Water has just published an important report which argues that only system-wide economic solutions are fit to address the crisis. Among the urgent tasks are to value the hydrological cycle as a global common good.  “The Economics of Water: Valuing the Hydrological Cycle as a Global Common Good” warns that unless humanity acts with greater boldness and urgency, an increasingly out-of-balance water cycle will wreak havoc on economies and humanity worldwide. It urges decision makers to recognise water’s interactions with biodiversity and climate change. The GCEW message at COP16 stresses how actions to stabilise the water cycle can accelerate progress towards the GBF targets. 
The Global Commission on the Economics of Water (GCEW) was convened in May 2022 at the initiative of the Government of the Netherlands as co-host of the UN 2023 Water Conference, with the aim of redefining the way we value and govern water for the common good, and completing the sustainability trilogy that began with the Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change and the Dasgupta Review on the Economics of Biodiversity. The Global Commission on the Economics of Water report is available in full at https://watercommission.org/ 

Speakers:

Henk Ovink, Executive Director, Commissioner, Global Commission on the Economics of Water; 

Naoko Ishii, Professor and Director, Center for Global Commons, The University of Tokyo; 

Martha Rojas Urrego, Executive Secretary, International Whaling Commission Secretariat

Martha.Baxter@oecd.org Lucy.Watkinson@oecd.org

The groundbreaking work in Nature for Climate Mitigation, Climate Adaptation and Resilience, and Just Transition of Indigenous and local communities from the UNDP Equator Prize network sets a global benchmark for local sustainable development. 
Their nature-based solutions show clear pathways to address the intertwined biodiversity and climate crises.
This press conference will focus on showcasing some Indigenous and locally led solutions that will be featured in the ‘Equator Prize 2024: Celebrating Indigenous and Local Solutions for Nature and Climate’ event to be held by the UNDP Equator Initiative in partnership with the CBD on 26 October in the COP16 Blue Zone as part of the Nature & Culture Summit. Indigenous Peoples, local communities’ representatives, renowned thought leaders and artists will take the stage throughout the celebration.

Speakers: 

Yuri Nataly Caicedo Guanga (Reserva La Planada)

Juan Camilo Lara Giraldo (FEMNCAFE)

Maksudur Rahman (Sundarbans Eco Village in Bangladesh)

Maggie Musanje Bukowa (CredorSave Loans)

Moderation: Anna Giulia Medri (Lead-UNDP Equator Initiative)

The press conference aims to discuss the outcomes of development and the peer-review process on the methodology for the indicator for national implementation of the Gender Plan of Action for Target 23, and the Gender and Environment Data Conference.

Speakers: 

Meenal Tatpati and Alejandra Duarte,  Policy Team, Women4Biodiversity

Mrinalini Rai (TBC), Director, Women4Biodiversity

UNEP-WCMC (TBC)

UN Women (TBC) 

This year, ‘NATURE’ officially launched as a musical artist on major streaming platforms through Sounds Right, an initiative from the Museum for the United Nations - UN Live and partners which allows nature to generate royalties and funding from her own sounds. In just six months, NATURE has reached over 65M+ streams from 7.5M+ listeners in over 180 countries. Sounds Right has also announced that NATURE is gifting away her royalties and institutional donations for the first time, initially to support conservation efforts in Colombia, home to almost 10% of the world’s biodiversity, and where the initiative was co-founded with sound artist collective VozTerra

Launched at the 2024 U.N. Biodiversity Conference COP16 in Cali, the Sounds Right Fund (hosted by EarthPercent, a UK and US registered charity) will direct income from the musical artist NATURE to critical ecosystems amidst the biodiversity crisis. Projects will be chosen based on their ecological and community impact and by an independent Expert Advisory Panel consisting of leading conservationists and Indigenous rights activists. The first projects have been identified, with a total of $225,000 directed to four community-led conservation projects in the Tropical Andes; a Key Biodiversity Area with some of the highest rates of biodiversity and endemism on the planet. 

Speakers:

Gabriel Smales (Global Programme Director for Sounds Right, Museum for the United Nations – UN Live)

Kavita Prakash-Mani (Chair of the Executive Advisory Panel, Sounds Right Fund)

TBC – Hector Buitrago (Aterciopeldos & VozTerra co-founder)

What is expected to be announced: Earth Insight and CEED Philippines will present a new geospatial analysis showing that half of Coral Triangle’s unique and precious reef ecosystems are under oil and gas production or exploration blocks, with well over 300 such blocks in the Coral Triangle Implementation Area alone.

Speakers: 

Tyson Miller (Earth Insight)

Gerry Arances (CEED Philippines)

John Amos  (SkyTruth) 

Amidst nascent biodiversity credit markets with both voluntary and regulatory approaches and ongoing debates about the risk and potential of compensatory approaches, the hosting organizations support high-integrity policy structures and the mitigation hierarchy to internalize the costs of biodiversity impact, increase nature funding by driving demand for biodiversity credits, and create better outcomes for nature.

Speakers: 

Timothy Male, Executive Director, Environmental Policy Innovation Center

Esther Netshivhongweni, African Community Conservationists

Mariana Sarmiento, CEO, Terrasos

Aleksandra Holmlund, CEO, Qarlbo Biodiversity

Emma Toovey, Chief Ecology Officer, Environment Bank UK

Toral Shah, Biodiversity Coordinator, Plan Vivo Foundation

Keith Bohannon, CEO, Plan Vivo Foundation

Key outcomes and news from the 8th Summit for Subnational Governments & Cities

Subnational governments and cities are hubs of innovation and solutions, they are drivers of change, they are where implementation happens at ground level. Their critical role in contributing to the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) is established in Decision 15/12, adopted at CBD COP15. The vital role of nature in addressing the poly-crisis facing our planet is unmistakable.

Subnational governments and cities are clear in their call to the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and other stakeholders. The time for talk is over – we need to partner to progress and scale up implementation, and we need to make peace with nature now.

This press conference will present the key Summit outcomes from subnational governments and cities to the press ahead of presenting them formally to the CBD COP16 High Level Segment as a united message from the subnational constituency.

Exciting announcements from a wide range of leading subnational governments, cities, their networks and partners will also be shared at the press conference.

The 8th Summit for Subnational Governments & Cities, with over 1,200 registrants, focuses on taking action for biodiversity, under the themes of Partnering, Progress and Peace. It is being held on 26 October 2024, as an official parallel event to COP16, gathering governors, mayors and other subnational government leaders from around the world to engage directly with national leaders and their key stakeholders at CBD COP16.

The Summit is co-hosted by ICLEI, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and Regions4, along with the host Government of Colombia and the City of Cali. The main sponsor of the 8^th Summit is CAF, and co-sponsors are DAI & Veolia.

Speakers:

David Ainsworth, Information Office, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity

Kobie Brand, Deputy Secretary General: ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability & Global Director: ICLEI Cities Biodiversity Center

Jordan Harris, Executive Director: Regions4

Alejandro Eder, Mayor of Cali, Colombia

michelle.preen@iclei.org 

Michelle Preen +27 849246269

09:15

The Secretariat spokesperson presents the status of agenda items under negotiation from the previous day and makes announcements of upcoming events for the current day.

Speaker: 

David Ainsworth

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) will release the results of the Global Tree Assessment, part of the next update to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The assessment will provide an overview of the state of the world’s tree species - breaking down extinction risk and threats to species, like logging and agriculture, across the globe. 
Importantly, it gives regional data that builds a comprehensive picture of the state of trees in important, biodiverse environments. Press are invited to hear from experts who will present the results of the assessment and give their view on the significance of the data in terms of global progress on the GBF as we approach 2030.

Speakers: 

Dr Grethel Aguilar, IUCN Director General

Kevin Smith, Programme Head, Invasive Species and Wildlife Health, IUCN

Megan Barstow, Conservation Officer, Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) 

With the ocean home to 80% of the planet’s biodiversity and marine ecosystems playing a key role in climate change mitigation, action to reverse nature loss in the ocean must be a priority for governments. 

Encouragingly, there has been notable headway in the negotiations on Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas, which are essential for the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework and achieving its 30x30 target. Yet, progress in the talks on conserving and sustainably managing marine and coastal biodiversity has been frustratingly slow. Failure to resolve this could stall critical guidance by two years, at a time when marine ecosystems are facing unprecedented threats.

This press conference brings together civil society advocates, funders ,and Indigenous Peoples representatives to react to COP16’s Ocean Day, unveil major new funding announcements, and outline what needs to happen in the final stretch of the negotiations. With Ministers arriving this week, the stakes are high - now is the time for decisive action to protect our ocean and safeguard coastal communities. 

Speakers: 

Melissa Wright, Bloomberg Ocean Initiative lead, Bloomberg Philanthropies 

Onel Masardule, Executive Director for the Foundation for the Promotion of Indigenous Knowledge

Dr Susan Lieberman, Vice President, Wildlife Conservation Society

Renata Terrazas, Vice President, Oceana Mexico 

As the world gathers to discuss accelerating the implementation of the Biodiversity Plan at COP16, Nature Action 100 will release the results of the initiative’s first benchmark assessment of corporate ambition and action on nature. The analysis will assess the progress of 100 companies in key sectors toward achieving the Nature Action 100 Investor Expectations of Companies. Nature Action 100 is an investor-led engagement initiative that supports companies in taking action to reverse nature loss and biodiversity decline. The initiative’s Secretariat and Corporate Engagement Working Group is co-led by Ceres and the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC), and the initiative’s Technical Advisory Group is co-led by the Finance for Biodiversity Foundation and Planet Tracker. 

Speakers:

Meryl Richards, program director, food and forests, Ceres

Stephanie Pfeier, CEO, IIGCC

The Protected Planet 2024 report will provide the first update on protected areas since the agreement of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in 2022

Speakers: 

Inger Andersen (UNEP)

Neville Ash (UNEP-WCMC)

Dr Grethel Aguilar (IUCN) 

Dr Madhu Rao (WCPA)

As week two of negotiations gets underway, WWF experts will look at what needs to be achieved over the coming days for a successful conclusion to COP16 in Cali. The speakers will examine the must-haves and crunch points ahead of the arrival of ministers and heads of state for the High Level Segment. 

Taking place on Finance and Biodiversity Day, the briefing will consider how confidence and trust can be built between countries over the coming days, in order to unblock the deadlock on finance and deliver the resource mobilization needs for biodiversity finance by 2030; aligning financial flows to the Global Biodiversity Framework; and the accelerated actions needed to identify harmful subsidies to nature by 2025. With the COP29 climate change conference on the horizon, they will also explore the interlinkages between climate and nature finance, and the importance of a new finance goal to be agreed in Baku. 

Speakers: 

Kirsten Schuijt, Director General, WWF International

Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, WWF Global Climate and Energy Lead, former Minister of the Environment for Peru and president of climate COP20, and Action Agenda Champion for Nature and People

Aaron Vermeulen, WWF Global Finance Lead, WWF International

Ximena Barrera, Director of Government Relations & International Affairs, WWF Colombia

Bernadette Fischler Hooper, Head of International Advocacy, WWF-UK 

A progress report from Colombia on the momentum and activities underway in California, including Tribally-led national monument campaigns.

Speakers: 

California Administration and elected officials

Tribal representatives, scientists, and speakers from California's non-governmental organizations and grassroots coalitions

To achieve our common goals for biodiversity conservation and restoration, scientific research needs to be integrated into policy frameworks. 4 European-funded projects on science-policy interface (SPI) are organizing joint events to explore key questions on ensuring scientific knowledge meets political needs, expressing scientific needs from a political perspective, overcoming barriers to science-policy dialogue, and enhancing transnational research collaboration. On October 25, discussions will highlight the importance of SPI in particular to advance the implementation of the CBD and the KM-GBF. On October 31, we will focus on SPI for the biodiversity-health and biodiversity-climate.

Speakers: 

Nathalie Morata

Jorge Luis Ventocilla

Ute Jacob/Lluis Brotons (TBC)

Yves Zinngrebe (TBC) 

Rainer Sodtke (TBC)

This media briefing will focus on the need for COP negotiators to safeguard Indigenous-led, scientifically-proven solutions that help achieve CBD targets. Experts and Indigenous leaders will discuss the flaws in current climate solutions, which have harmed both communities and ecosystems, and propose a more inclusive approach to biodiversity preservation. The briefing will be led by the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities, a coalition representing Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities from 24 countries. 

Speakers: 

Sergio Guzman , of the Association of Forest Communities of Petén (ACOFOP) and the Mesoamerican Alliance of Pueblos and Forests (AMPB)

Cristiane Julião, of the Pankararu people, the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB), National Articulation of Indigenous Women Ancestrality Warriors (ANMIGA), and Global Alliance of Territorial Communities (GATC)

Oswaldo Muca Castizo, General Coordinator, National Organization of Indigenous Peoples of the Colombian Amazon (OPIAC)

Darragh Conway, Development Manager at Tenure Facility

Andrea Rodriguez & Florence Woods

communications@globalalliance.me 

The Forest and Finance Coalition has just published two major reports related to the Global Biodiversity Framework. The annual Banking on Biodiversity Collapse report is the most comprehensive analysis of global finance’s role in furthering tropical forest collapse. The Regulating Finance for Biodiversity report examines whether the current financial sector regulations in key areas are adequate to stop the tide of financing from the banks and investors most responsible for financing tropical deforestation –– financial institutions in Indonesia, Brazil, China, the European Union, and the United States. In this press event, a diverse panel of experts will present updated research on the financial flows to forest risk activities driving biodiversity loss, as well as analysis of the gaps in some key financial regulations, which must be strengthened. A panel of experts will discuss how to align financial flows most effectively and the role that NBSAPs play in this. In 2023, public and private financial flows causing biodiversity loss and associated environmental harm added up to 7 trillion USD, whereas only 200 billion USD was spent on conserving or restoring biodiversity (UNEP, 2023). It is clear that a binding commitment and strong financial regulations are needed to eliminate these harmful financial flows. Target 14 of the GBF requires the alignment of financial flows with the goals of the GBF. This is a precondition for reaching the GBF's objective of halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030.

Speakers: 

Kleber Karipuna - Executive Coordinator of APIB

Merel van der Mark, coordinator of the  Forests & Finance Coalition 

Jessica Dempsey - University of British Columbia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is rapidly advancing its ambitious agenda for meeting its biodiversity goals, having already increased its terrestrial protected areas from 4.5% to 18.1% and its marine protected areas from 3.6% to 6.5% since 2017. Through the implementation of coastline protection programs, the establishment of new national parks, and its transition to a more balanced energy mix, Saudi Arabia is on track to meeting the 30x30 commitments outlined in both the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and its Vision 2030 national development strategy. The head of the Saudi Arabia delegation will share the Kingdom’s framework for achieving the CBD COP biodiversity goals, as the Kingdom also prepares to host COP16 in Riyadh later this year.

Speakers: 

Saudi Arabian Delegation

Resource Mobilization is critical to ensure the successful implementation of the historic
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (the “GBF”) agreed at the Convention
on Biological Diversity’s COP15. To that end, on the occasion of ‘COP16 Finance Day”, a coalition of civil society organizations will be speaking about progress so far on meeting the commitment in Target 19a of the GBF for developed countries to provide at least US$20 billion of biodiversity finance to developing countries annually by 2025 and where we are falling behind on meeting this critical target. 

Speakers: 

Principals from the $20bn Flotilla and Ministerial Supporters

Olivia@foei.org

8:45-9:15

The Secretariat spokesperson presents the status of agenda items under negotiation from the previous day and makes announcements of upcoming events for the current day.

Speaker: 

David Ainsworth

A 3-Michellin Star Chef joins IPBES, UNESCO and the CBD to explore the vital links between global challenges on biodiversity, food and health – and the links to culture and heritage.

Speakers: 

Chef Mauro Colagreco, UNESCO 

Director-General Audrey Azoulay, 

IPBES Chair Dr. David Obura, 

CBD Executive Secretary Astrid Schomaker

Prof. Pamela McElwee Co-Chair of the IPBES Nexus Assessment

Speakers: 

Minister of Environment, Colombia (TBC)

Leadership from the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR) (TBC)

UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Oceans (TBC)

 Representatives from New Zealand, UK, Germany, France (TBC)

At every CBD COP, the International Council for game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) presents the Markhor Award to  a project that links the conservation of biodiversity and human livelihoods through sustainable use.

Speakers: 

SCBD (TBD)

Dr. Hamid Zohrabi, Deputy Manager for natural environment of the Department Of the Environment of Iran (DOE)

Ivonne Higuero, Secretary General CITES  

Dilys Roe, Chair IUCN Sustainable Use & Livelihood Group

Bahodur Sheralizoda, Minister of Environment, Tadjikistan

Moderator: Sebastian Winkler, DG CIC-International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation

t.paulic@cic-wildlife.org

s.winkler@cic-wildlife.org

Join leading biodiversity experts, Indigenous community representatives, and climate campaigners as they provide a candid overview of the ongoing discussions at the UN CBD COP 16, including a gender lens. This press conference will uncover what’s working, what’s stalling, and the unspoken challenges shaping the future of biodiversity and climate action, including gender-responsive approaches to halt biodiversity loss. With the negotiations entering their final critical days, panellists will highlight key areas where media attention is most needed to hold decision-makers accountable and ensure that commitments translate into meaningful action on the ground.

Speakers: 

Mary Louise Malig, Policy Director, GFC

Souparna Lahiri, Senior Climate and Biodiversity Policy Advisor, GFC

Valentina Figuera Martinez, Gender Justice and Forests Campaign Coordinator, GFC

Andrea Echeverri, Unsustainable Livestock Campaign Coordinator, GFC

To update the COP16 community on the critical role of local and locally adapted livestock biodiversity (and wildlife) in the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and how the framework aligns with CTLGH and ILRI’s Strategic thematic areas, demonstrating the synergies and contributions of livestock biodiversity to global biodiversity goals and sustainable development, and calling for action.
Livestock - particularly the local & locally adapted, and non-conventional livestock - plays fundamental roles across a wide range of ecosystems and communities, from helping maintain and restore the diversity in plant species and soil health, to providing crucial sources of food, high-quality nutrients, and income for all stakeholders of the livestock value chain around the world. unfortunately, livestock is still disregarded in most NBSAPs and the general discussions at the COP and the global funding schemes. 
As species face extinction at unprecedented rates and the global population continues to expand, we cannot afford to treat agriculture and biodiversity as sectorially and geographically separate. We must find and implement ways to integrate food production, livelihoods, and biodiversity conservation. Farmers, pastoralists, researchers, policymakers, and Indigenous knowledge-holders across the planet are already showing us how.
CBD COP16 should offer the opportunity to support the integration of sustainable livestock strategies into national biodiversity strategies and action plans. This should open new avenues to finance the needed transition to sustainable livestock management

Speakers:  

Christian Keambou Tiambo, Lead Cellular Resources, Functional genomic and Biotechnologies, centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH) – International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

Cargele Masso, Director, CGIAR environment and biodiversity platform

Patrick Karani,  African Union-InterAfrican Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR)

Bernard Kimoro, Head of Climate Change and Livestock Sustainability, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development

Sally Katee, ILRI ABS research associate.

Announcement of MIDORI Prize winners 2024.

Speakers: 

Astrid Schomaker 

Representative from the Ministry of Environment of Japan

Representative from AEON Environmental Foundation

Awardees

The Secretariat spokesperson presents the status of agenda items under negotiation from the previous day and makes announcements of upcoming events for the current day.

Speaker: 

David Ainsworth

Speakers will provide updates on human rights initiatives and advocacy at CBD COP16 highlighting the need for human rights solutions to the biodiversity crisis.

Speakers: 

Ilze Brands Kehris, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights; 

Astrid Puentes, Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment;  

June Soomer, Chair of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent; 

Anexa Alfred Cunningham, Vice-Chair Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 

Elisa Morgera, Special Rapporteur on climate change and human rights; 

Benjamin Schachter, OHCHR (moderator)

Nela Cernota nela.cernota@un.org

 Benjamin Schachter benjamin.schachter@un.org

In this press conference, a global consortium of food system actors, composed by the Global Alliance for the Future of Food, Biovision, WWF, Alliance Bioversity International – CIAT, and the Agroecology Coalition, will present its new Guidance Tool "Boosting biodiversity action through agroecology". The Tool supports countries in integrating agroecological principles and interventions into their respective National Biodiversity Strategies and Actions Plans. While industrial agriculture and global food systems are a major driver of biodviersity loss, agroecology offers a promising pathway to fight against the biodiversity crisis through measures such as transitioning to ecological farming practices, nurturing diversity of seeds or reducing the use of polluting synthetic inputs. 

Speakers: 

Moritz Fegert (Biovision)

Matheus Alves Zanella (Global Alliance for the Future of Food)

Natasja Oerlemans (WWF)

Carolina Navarrete (Alliance Bioversity International - CIAT)

The Secretariat spokesperson presents the status of agenda items under negotiation from the previous day and makes announcements of upcoming events for the current day.

Speaker:

David Ainsworth

Speakers: 

Marina Silva, Minister of Environment and Climate Change of Brazil

Sonia Guajajara, Minister of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil

Roberta Eugênio, Vice-Minister of Racial Equality of Brazil

Maria Angelica Ikeda, Director of the Department for the Environment, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil

Organizaciones de la Sociedad Civil e Indigena de America Latina presentan su balance y análisis frente a los avances de la COP16. 

Nombres de los participantes 

Ana Di Pancracio - FARN , Argentina

Karla Maass Wolfenson - CANLA

Emilio Spataro, GFLAC

The IIFB will present their perspectives on the outcomes of the COP16 negotiations, including their priorities for implementation. They will highlight the central roles and important contributions of Indigenous Peoples and local communities as custodians of biodiversity and as partners in its conservation, restoration and sustainable use.

Speakers:

Lakpa Nuri Sherpa (TBC)

Ramiro Batzin (TBC)

Lucy Mulenkei (TBC)

Colombian indigenous leader (TBC)

Speakers: 

Christian Keambou Tiambo, CTLGH- ILRI

Cargele Masso, CGIAR environment and biodiversity platform

Patrick Karani, AU-IBAR

Bernard Kimoro, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development - Kenya

Sally Katee, CTLGH- ILRI.

Moderator: Mireille Ferrari 

The press conference aims to discuss the outcomes of development and the peer-review process on the methodology for the indicator for national implementation of the Gender Plan of Action for Target 23, and the Gender and Environment Data Conference.

Speakers: 

Meenal Tatpati and Alejandra Duarte, Policy Team, Women4Biodiversity, 

UNEP-WCMC (TBC)

UN Women (TBC) 

Belem on the Horizon: Climate Justice Networks on the Challenges Ahead

Belem en el Horizonte: Redes de justicia climática hablan sobre el camino a la COP30 de Cambio Climático 

Climate justice networks and organizations offer their assessment of CBD COP16 and projections on future challenges on the road to Climate COP30 in Belem in 2025. 

Redes y organizaciones de justicia climática entregan su evaluación de la COP16 de biodiversidad y proyectan los desafíos futuros con el horizonte en la COP30 de Cambio Climático de Belém el 2025.

As we head into the final days of CBD COP16, policy experts from leading nature organizations will provide an update on the state of play in the negotiation rooms. 

This press conference follows the delivery of a High-Level Statement made in the plenary urging Parties to accelerate action to ensure we can meet the Global Biodiversity Framework in the next six years. Challenges in the negotiation rooms include: 

• Inclusion of Indigenous Peoples and human-rights-based approaches
• Mainstreaming biodiversity into all sectors
• Bringing the biodiversity funding gap and delivering the $20bn from developed countries
• Ensuring halting and reversing nature loss by 2030 in line with the GBF and delivering a nature-positive world is a top political priority
• Bringing together the climate and nature agendas through alignments between NBSAPs and NDCs

Speakers:

Marco Lambertini, Convenor, Nature Positive Initiative

Martin Harper, CEO BirdLife International

Patricia Zurita, Chief Strategy Officer, Conservation International

Lucy Mulenkei, Executive Director, Indigenous Information Network

Pepe Clarke, Oceans Practice Leader, WWF International

Lucy Mulenkei, Co-Chair, The International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB)

Sindhu Ram, +44 759 619 2893 sindhu.ram@greenhouse.agency 

Rachel Parkes, +44 777 52 2919 rachel.parkes@greennhouse.agency 

GYBN LAC 

GYBN Bolivia 

GYBN Brasil 

GYBN Paraguay 

GYBN Peru 

GYBN Venezuela 

GYBN Colombia  

Global Forest Coalition 

Reacción Climática 

Movimiento Propacha 

ROC Bolivia 

Red Brasilera de Biodiversidad y Clima 

Ararankha: Ecología y Conservación 

Women4Biodiversity 

Slow Food Youth Network

The Secretariat spokesperson presents the status of agenda items under negotiation from the previous day and makes announcements of upcoming events for the current day.

Speaker: 

David Ainsworth

Civil society members will share insights into the CBD process and why geoengineering is a risk to climate and biodiversity, peoples and communities.

Speakers: 

Silvia Ribeiro ETC Group 

Mary Church CIEL

IEN (Name TBC)

HOME Alliance (Name TBC) 

Neha Gupta, comms@handsoffmotherearth.org 

and Ronnie Hall, ronnie@etcgroup.org

Speakers:

Pamela Avusi, Papua New Guinea Environmental Alliance (PNGEA)

Evelyn Katu Wohuinangu, Centre for Environmental Law and Community Rights (CELCOR)

Fabian Paliken, Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council (CIMC)

Aina Grødahl, Rainforest Foundation Norway (RFN)

Comision de Agua y Biodiversidad

 comisiondeagua@senado.gov.co

Wetlands International’s assessment aims to raise awareness of the critical importance of wetland conservation and restoration in implementing the Global Biodiversity Plan, highlighting examples of where countries are embracing this potential and where they are lagging, and making the case for why everyone should embrace more ambitious action for our wetlands. 

Speakers:

Femke Tonneijck, Director of Programme Impact at Wetlands International

Rafaela Nicola, Director, Brazil at Wetlands International

Daniel Blanco, Director, Latin America and the Caribbean at Wetlands International

Closing Press Conference 

(subject to change - come back  regularly for updates)