Decision COP 16/2

The Conference of the Parties,

Recalling decisions 15/4 and 15/9 of 19 December 2022,

Taking note of recommendation 2/1 of 16 August 2024 of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Benefit-sharing from the Use of Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources,

Noting the relevant discussions on digital sequence information on genetic resources and related issues held under other United Nations bodies and treaties, such as the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, the World Health Organization and the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction, 

Recognizing that the approach to the fair and equitable benefit-sharing from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources set out in the present decision is without prejudice to national access and benefit-sharing measures and does not affect the rights and obligations of any Party deriving from any existing international agreement,

Acknowledging the vital role of digital sequence information on genetic resources and of open access to such information in scientific research and sustainable development,

Recognizing the importance of the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources to achieving Goal C and Target 13 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework,

Acknowledging the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,

Recognizing the vital role that indigenous peoples and local communities play in the conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources,

Noting that, in some world views, all natural genetic information belongs to Mother Earth,

Recalling the sovereignty rights of States over their natural resources,

1. Adopts the modalities for operationalizing the multilateral mechanism for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources, including a global fund, as set out in the annex to the present decision;

2. Decides that the global fund will be known as the Cali Fund for the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits from the Use of Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources; 

4. Further decides to explore possible new tools and models, such as databases, for making digital sequence information on genetic resources publicly available and accessible in a transparent and accountable manner to all Parties;

5. Invites Parties, other Governments, indigenous people and local communities, and relevant organizations to submit views on the issues referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4; 

6. Requests the Executive Secretary, subject to the availability of resources, to:

7. Requests the Subsidiary Body on Implementation to consider the synthesis of views and the study mentioned in subparagraphs 6 (a) and (b) and to make recommendations to the Conference of the Parties at its seventeenth meeting on: