The 16th Biodiversity Conference, “Conference of the Parties” (COP16), will take place from October 21st to November 1st, 2024 in Cali, Colombia. The meeting's motto is “Peace with Nature” (Paz con la Naturaleza). It takes place in one of the most biodiverse areas in the world, with completely different habitats such as the Andes, the Amazon lowlands, and the Pacific and Caribbean seas. Colombia is considered a biodiversity hotspot, which means it is a region with a large number of endemic, i.e. only found here, plant and animal species.
Who is attending COP 16?
The 196 contracting states to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) take part in the conference. Representatives from business, science and civil society are also on site. The latter includes non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as well as indigenous peoples and local communities. The CBD is the most important multilateral treaty for the preservation of biodiversity on earth. Only four states, including the USA, have not yet ratified the document. You take part in Cali as an observer.
