Salvation through harmony: Multilateralism revived with CBD COP16

After a three-month hiatus and many long hours of difficult negotiations, the resumed session of the 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16) was gavelled to a close in the early hours of 28 February in Rome, Italy, marking a pivotal moment in global efforts to address biodiversity loss. Delegates from around the world convened to finalise critical decisions left unresolved from the initial session in Cali, Colombia in late 2024. The conference, which evidenced the resilience of multilateralism, achieved significant commitments for biodiversity conservation, and set a robust foundation for the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) by 2030.

In the words of the Colombian COP President, Susana Muhamad, the decisions taken by COP16 have “given arms, legs and muscles to the KMGBF”. In an era marked by geopolitical tensions, under the extraordinary leadership of the COP President and her team, COP16 showcased the enduring strength of international cooperation. Despite challenges and, at times, polarised national positions, the Parties reached consensus on several pressing and difficult issues, demonstrating a collective commitment to preserving the planet's biodiversity.  

Giving means of implementation to the KMGBF 

IUCN welcomes the decisions taken in Rome on the monitoring framework; the mechanism for planning, monitoring, reporting and review; the resource mobilisation strategy; and the financial mechanism – all of which are critical for the operationalisation of the KMGBF.  

The journey to reaching an agreement on resource mobilisation has been a long bumpy road, spanning from Montreal to Cali and finally to Rome, where a decision was only secured at the last moment with the gavel's final strike. In this decision, the Parties established a permanent financial mechanism for the CBD, in line with Article 21 of the Convention, and committed to enhancing the mobilisation of funds from all sources, including through the adoption of the strategy for resource mobilisation. The agreement also outlines a step-by-step roadmap for implementation at each COP, aiming to make the permanent financial mechanism fully operational by COP19.  

The Parties also strengthened the monitoring framework originally agreed upon at COP15. This framework is crucial for implementation, as it establishes common benchmarks for measuring progress toward the KMGBF’s 23 targets and four goals. IUCN particularly supported maintaining the monitoring framework under development and review, as well as strengthening and building capacity at the national level, thus cementing its long-term character – a framework that could continue well past 2030. 

Additionally, key decisions were made regarding how progress on KMGBF implementation will be reviewed at COP17 as part of the planned global stocktake. These included, for example, how to capture the commitments from non-state actors. As a membership organisation, IUCN looks forward to engaging in this review process, underscoring that the outcomes of this exercise need to drive action and strategies to keep the world on track to achieve the 2030 targets and the mission of the KMGBF. 

Looking Ahead to COP17 

While lauding the progress made, IUCN also highlights the necessity for continuous improvement and heightened ambition to effectively combat biodiversity loss. In this regard, the path to COP17, scheduled for 2026 in Yerevan, Armenia, is lined with critical milestones.  

From now until then, governments will still need to update their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), and submit, along with the rest of society, reports on their efforts in implementing the KMGBF. The newly established Subsidiary Body on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions will also meet for the first time, strengthening the role of traditional knowledge in biodiversity conservation and integrating the innovations and practices of Indigenous Peoples and local communities into global biodiversity governance. 

The successful implementation of COP16 decisions requires unwavering commitment from all stakeholders and demands collaborative efforts to transform the ambitious goals set forth into tangible actions. In Rome, the importance of enhancing cooperation and synergies among all relevant conventions, organisations and initiatives was recognised and agreed that the goals under the KMGBF cannot be reached without such multi-faceted collaboration. IUCN joins all those who call for making the synergies agenda fully operational.  

Rome’s COP16.2 will go down in the history of the convention as a landmark, reviving hope on multilateral decision-making to address the greatest challenges of our time. We join the spirit of Concordia salus, Latin for "salvation through harmony", referenced by Canadian Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault, in his passionate intervention to the plenary yesterday. Concordia salus.  

Victoria Romero is a Senior Policy Officer for Biodiversity at IUCN. Sonia Peña Moreno is the Director of the Centre for Policy and Law at IUCN.