by Andy Lester 11 November 2024
This autumn, delegates from nearly 200 nations met at Cali in Colombia for a stocktake of the world’s ecosystems. What were the outcomes? And what can we do next?
The background to COP16 is stark. According to the latest Living Planet report commissioned by the WWF, wildlife globally has declined by 73% in the last 50 years. The pace of decline continues to grow, with one million species now at risk of extinction. And now the acceleration of severe impacts of climate change such as droughts and fires, floods and severe winds are also damaging nature and impeding efforts to restore it. So combined action by the international community is urgently needed.
The United Nations reports that despite the 23 goals set at COP15 in 2022 to slow and eventually reverse the declines, there has been little new investment. Only 44 countries (22%) submitted updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs) in time for the summit.
A major problem is that there is little incentive for countries to meet voluntary targets because the Convention on Biodiversity has no penalties for failure or specific benefits for countries achieving them. So, without new commitments from the 100-plus nations yet to show any progress, the lack of legislative power within the UN is actually a disincentive for others to comply. With less than six years to run before nations report back on the ultimate goal of restoring 30% of the world’s lands and oceans for nature, the world remains far off the target.
However, the biggest sticking point remains the lack of funding for developing countries which was not forthcoming and left emerging economies stating that they are unable to reach targets without new money from the leading developed nations. This will be revisited at an interim meeting in Indonesia in late 2025.
There are some glimmers of hope. The World Economic Forum has stated that the healthiest land on the planet is owned and managed by indigenous communities. 91% of their land (one third of the world’s terrestrial land) is considered to be in good or fair condition, and a record number of delegates from indigenous groups were invited to take part in the COP16 conference, which has to be good news. Hearing the voices of those who understand best how to manage and care for the land and its natural resources is a critical part of finding long-term solutions.
Hearing the right voices is just the start. The biggest challenge is turning it into meaningful and targeted action. The focus must be on persuading governments to urgently submit their NBSAPs and for those that have to push hard for legally binding commitments. Without clear and ambitious national goals, the targets are at best aspirational and at worst meaningless. Working with indigenous groups to set new targets will be a key prerequisite to making a positive change.
For A Rocha UK, our focus must be one of prayer, raising our voice and practical action. Let us pray that voices that have the knowledge and experience of the land are offered the chance to really shape future decisions. Let us pray too that we see real leadership from our own government and that more investment is made to protect nature nationally.
Alongside our prayers let’s continue to campaign – write to your MP as part of the campaign to bring about a new Climate and Nature Act in the UK, which will also strengthen our international leadership. You can go straight to the action here as well as explore our resources on campaigning for creation here.
It may feel like a drop in the proverbial ocean – but every action is our way of rebelling against the direction of travel. It is a statement of faithfulness and hope as well as a reminder that all is not lost.
Post expires on January 20th, 2025
