Associated Events
The CBD Conference of the Parties provides an opportunity for Parties and observers to convene and engage in a wide range of summits, forums, fairs, pavilions and side-events that enrich the formal discussions of the meetings. These events host a range of thematic discussions related to biodiversity, across different networks and constituencies, allowing participants to share knowledge, explore collaborations, and build capacity to address the biodiversity crisis. A number of events and activities are being held within the Conference security perimeter (the so-called Blue Zone), and accessible to duly accredited COP observer organizations, and other events and activities are held outside the Blue Zone and accessible to accredited and non-accredited actors and the public in general.

Major Parallel Meetings in Blue Zone
For COP 16, several constituencies including indigenous peoples and local communities, science and academia, sub-national and local authorities, UN agencies, business and finance, in close collaboration with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Government of Colombia, and other partners, are organizing one- or two-day summits and forums. These events will be held at the margins of COP 16, inside the Conference venue. The events are accessible to duly registered COP 16 observer organizations, and on the basis of instructions provided by each event organizer.
- Capacity-Building and Development Forum – 19 October 2024
- Parliamentarian Forum [Spanish] – 23 October 2024
- Women Forum – 25 October 2024
- 8th Summit for Subnational Governments and Cities – 26 October 2024
- Nature and Culture Summit 2024 – 26 - 27 October 2024
- Biodiversity Technology and Innovation Expo 2024 – 21 October - 1 November 2024
- Sixth Science-Policy Forum for Biodiversity and the Ninth International Conference on Sustainability Science – 27 October 2024
- Informal Meeting of the Advisory Committee on Local Governments for Biodiversity of the Convention on Biological Diversity - 27 October 2024
- Business and Biodiversity Forum – 27 October 2024
- Finance and Biodiversity Day – 28 October 2024
The Secretariat also coordinates spaces for thematic activities and others, in collaboration with partners:
- Place Québec – 22 - 30 October 2024
- MultiStakeholder Auditorium
- Hubs
- Exchange Center
- Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Pavilion – 21 - 31 October 2024
Workshops
The Secretariat also coordinates training workshops for with the objective of providing general information about the topics or areas of work. There will be presentations, hands-on training, examinations of case studies and discussion sessions.
- Inception Workshop: Umbrella Programme to Support NBSAP Update and the 7th National Reports – 19 October 2024
- Biosafety Clearing-House Training Workshop – 26 October 2024
- Access and Benefit-Sharing Clearing-House Workshop – 27 October 2024
Side-events in Blue Zone
Side-events serve as platforms for admitted observer organizations and Parties, to engage with each other in 80-minute sessions. Side-event sessions are held almost daily during the lunch and evening breaks in between formal sessions. For more information on side-events and calendar of events, visit the Side Events dedicated website.
Off-site Events
Host Country Events
The Government of Colombia, the city of Cali, local and national civil society entities and their partners will be providing additional space outside the Conference venue for non-accredited organizations and the general public to meaningfully engage, collaborate and network around issues and themes of COP 16. A series of activities and events will take place at the margins of the COP including:
- COP 16 Public Green Zone
- COP 16 Youth Summit: Pluriethnic Futures – Harvesting Life and Peace with Nature