Progress was made on several fronts at COP 16, including on the protection of 30 per cent of land and ocean by 2030 with the government publishing new criteria to meet domestic 30×30 targets in England.
Attendees at the summit in Cali, which included Environment Secretary Steve Reed, Nature Minister Mary Creagh and Natural England Chair Tony Juniper, agreed a deal on Digital Sequence Information (DSI), whereby genetic information that has been sequenced from the natural world can be made available online.
These DNA codes can then be used by scientists for important research in medicine, agriculture, conservation and public health. Businesses now have the option of voluntarily contributing to a new fund – known as the Cali Fund – if they use this genetic information from nature.
A New Finance Trends dashboard was also launched to increase transparency in nature finance, as well as a new framework to support a high-integrity biodiversity credits market.
COP16 agreed the establishment of a new permanent body for Indigenous Peoples and local communities to empower them and increase their input into formal decision-making. As well as supporting further conservation, the Cali Fund will also see a significant proportion of the finance flowing back to these local groups.
The role of fungi was also elevated as the UK and Chile collaborated on a pledge to give fungi the same protection as plants and animals, noting their vital role in addressing the environmental crisis.
The UK was, however, disappointed that COP16 concluded before reaching an agreement on international strategies for mobilising nature finance and a framework for monitoring progress against international targets.
Nature Minister Mary Creagh said, “It’s never been more important to tackle the nature and climate crises, and so the progress made is important. But it’s clear there is more work to do internationally, and we will continue to work with countries and environmental groups to drive further progress. The UK will continue to press for concerted action to resolve these outstanding issues and for the full implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework.”
Toby Perkins MP, Environmental Audit Committee Chair, said, “We are in the grips of a global nature crisis, and the pressure is on at each UN Biodiversity Summit to seize the challenge. While I welcome progress on the Cali Fund to encourage companies benefiting from the use of genetic information from nature to pay more, and on new criteria to meet our 30×30 targets, the overall scale of the challenge has not been reflected in the agreements reached before the Summit was suspended.
“Delegates failed to reach consensus on mobilising nature finance, and we’re still in the dark as to how ambitious international targets are to be met. It’s impossible to see how governments worldwide can pave the way for nature to recover with such gaping holes in key mechanisms to fund and assess efforts. In the cold light of day, Cali can only be seen as a disappointment.
“With such important issues left unresolved, it would be helpful to hear from ministers about the steps the UK will take to bridge the gap between what was achieved and what was needed. It is therefore disappointing that the government appears to be willing to provide only a written statement on the Cali summit to Parliament, and I urge the government to make an oral statement in the House of Commons to allow MPs to hear from ministers on this important issue.”
He said, “It would also be good to clarify the role that UK negotiators played in the position reached and whether they are also disappointed by the outcome of COP16. Ministers must demonstrate the UK’s capacity for constructive leadership as we begin to navigate the long road ahead to ensure the future for global nature.”