CBD COP 16 and COP 29

Hello readers! We’re sure, just like us, that recently you’ve heard lots on the news about CBD COP 16 and COP 29. They seem important (and they are!) but what actually are they? And what did they do? Well, we’re here to give you a brief intro on both, and explain what the key outcomes from both conferences were.

What are they and what’s the difference?

So, first things first, both ‘COPs’ are international conferences which brings together governments, businesses, scientists and indigenous communities to look at some of the most important environmental issues our planet is facing. However, key to note, they handle different things:

• CBD COP 16, held in Cali, Columbia, in October, was the 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The purpose of a CBD COP is to try and implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) which aims to reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. If you want to learn more about biodiversity, click here.
• COP 29, held in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November, was the 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The purpose is to try and drive international action on the climate crisis and stop global warming.

• A permanent body was created for Indigenous Communities to ensure they have a voice in global biodiversity protection.
• The Cali Fund was created to share information to developing world countries on digital sequence information on genetic resources (DSI).
• Countries were encouraged to update their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).

• $300 billion annually, until 2035, was committed to developing countries who are suffering the worst impacts of climate change.
• The creation of a system where countries can work together and share efforts to reduce their emissions and meet climate targets. This is important as not all countries have the same ways or resources to decarbonise.
• New National Determined Contributions (NDCs) needed in 2025, at COP 30, to keep our planet in line with 1.5C targets.