Outcomes of COP16 Resumed Session in Rome and their relevance to Kenya

 Outcomes of COP16 Resumed Session in Rome and Their Relevance to Kenya

1. Introduction The resumed session of the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) concluded in Rome on 28 February 2025. The meeting finalized agreements on biodiversity financing, planning, monitoring, reporting, and review mechanisms essential for implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). The session marked a significant step toward mobilizing resources and strengthening governance for biodiversity conservation.

2. Key Outcomes of the Meeting

(a) Resource Mobilization Strategy

• Governments agreed on a strategy to mobilize the financial resources required to close the biodiversity finance gap.

• A commitment was made to mobilize at least USD 200 billion annually by 2030, including USD 20 billion per year in international flows by 2025, rising to USD 30 billion by 2030.

• The strategy includes public finance, private sector investment, philanthropic contributions, and multilateral development bank funding.

• The establishment of permanent arrangements for the financial mechanism of the CBD was agreed upon.

(b) Planning, Monitoring, Reporting, and Review (PMRR) Mechanism

• The monitoring framework for the KMGBF was enhanced to track progress on its 23 targets and four goals.

• Parties agreed on standardized reporting indicators for national and global assessments.

• The global stocktake of KMGBF implementation was scheduled for COP17.

• Commitments from non-state actors, including indigenous peoples, local communities, youth, and the private sector, were integrated into the PMRR mechanism.

(c) Launch of the Cali Fund

• A new financing mechanism, the Cali Fund, was launched to facilitate the equitable sharing of benefits from the use of digital sequence information (DSI) on genetic resources.

• The private sector will contribute a share of its revenue or profits from DSI use, with at least 50% of the fund directed to indigenous peoples and local communities.

(d) Other Agreements

• Strengthened cooperation with multilateral environmental agreements and other organizations.

• Discussions on the Multi-Year Programme of Work (MYPOW) to be continued at COP17.

• Conditions for the appointment of the CBD Executive Secretary were outlined.

3. Relevance to Kenya

The decisions made at COP16 have critical implications for Kenya’s biodiversity conservation efforts:

(a) Biodiversity Financing and National Strategies

• Kenya can leverage the global funding commitments to support national biodiversity initiatives under its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP).

• The resource mobilization framework offers an opportunity to secure international financing to implement Kenya’s commitments under the KMGBF, particularly in protected area expansion, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable use.

(b) Enhanced Planning and Reporting

• The strengthened PMRR framework aligns with Kenya’s need for improved biodiversity monitoring and reporting.

• The standardized indicators will help Kenya track progress on key conservation goals and report effectively to the CBD.

• The inclusion of non-state actors in reporting mechanisms supports Kenya’s ongoing efforts to integrate local communities and indigenous knowledge into biodiversity governance.

(c) Access to the Cali Fund

• The establishment of the Cali Fund provides a new avenue for Kenya to benefit from financial contributions linked to digital sequence information.

• Given Kenya’s rich genetic resources, including medicinal plants and agricultural biodiversity, the country stands to gain from benefit-sharing mechanisms under the fund.

(d) Alignment with National and Global Biodiversity Goals

• The outcomes of COP16 align with Kenya’s commitments to achieving SDGs and national policies on environmental conservation.

• The emphasis on cooperation with multilateral environmental agreements supports Kenya’s participation in regional biodiversity conservation frameworks.

Analysis of the outcomes

The outcomes of a UN Biodiversity Conference (COP16), which resumed in Rome after being suspended in Cali, Colombia in 2024. The meeting focused on mobilizing resources to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), a plan adopted in 2022 at COP15 to protect biodiversity worldwide by 2030 and beyond. Governments agreed on strategies to fund biodiversity protection, enhance monitoring mechanisms, and launch a new fund leveraging private-sector contributions.

Key Agreements and Their Implications

1. Resource Mobilization Strategy

• What Was Agreed?

  • Governments established a permanent financial mechanism under the CBD (Articles 21 and 39) to secure funding for biodiversity.

  • The goal is to close the "biodiversity finance gap" by mobilizing at least $200 billion annually by 2030, including $20 billion per year in international flows by 2025, rising to $30 billion by 2030.

  • A mix of financial tools was outlined: public funds (national/subnational governments), private and philanthropic contributions, multilateral development banks, blended finance, and innovative approaches.

  • A roadmap was set for decisions through COP17, COP18, and COP19 (up to 2030).

• Significance:

  • The biodiversity finance gap refers to the shortfall between current funding and what’s needed to meet global biodiversity targets. Closing it is critical to halting species loss and ecosystem collapse.

  • Permanent arrangements signal long-term commitment, while the diverse funding mix reduces reliance on any single source, making the strategy more resilient.

  • The involvement of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), which has already approved $3 billion (2022–2024) and leverages $22 billion in co-financing, shows existing momentum that this strategy builds upon.

2. Planning, Monitoring, Reporting, and Review (PMRR) Mechanisms

• What Was Agreed?

  • Enhanced the KMGBF monitoring framework (from COP15) with standardized indicators to measure progress on its 23 targets and 4 goals.

  • Agreed on how Parties (countries) will track and report national progress, ensuring data can be aggregated globally.

  • Set rules for a global stocktake at COP17 and included contributions from non-government actors (e.g., indigenous peoples, youth, private sector).

• Significance:

  • Standardized indicators ensure consistency and transparency, allowing the world to see if the KMGBF is working.

  • Including non-government actors broadens accountability and recognizes their role in biodiversity protection (e.g., indigenous communities often manage biodiverse lands).

  • The global stocktake at COP17 will be a key moment to assess progress and adjust strategies, similar to climate stocktakes under the Paris Agreement.

3. The Cali Fund and Digital Sequence Information (DSI)

• What Was Agreed?

  • Launched the Cali Fund on February 26, 2025, to share benefits from Digital Sequence Information (DSI) on genetic resources.

  • Private companies using DSI commercially (e.g., in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics) will contribute a portion of revenue or profits.

  • At least 50% of the funds will support indigenous peoples and local communities.

• Significance:

  • DSI refers to digital data derived from genetic resources (e.g., DNA sequences). It’s valuable for industries but historically hasn’t benefited the biodiversity sources (often in developing countries).

  • The Cali Fund introduces a novel way to tap private-sector profits, marking a shift toward "biodiversity-positive" business models.

  • Prioritizing indigenous and local communities acknowledges their stewardship of biodiversity-rich areas and aligns with equity goals in the CBD.

4. Other Decisions

• Cooperation: Strengthened partnerships with stakeholders, other environmental agreements, and organizations.

• Multi-Year Programme of Work (MYPOW): Deferred to COP17 for discussion.

• Executive Secretary: Set conditions for appointing the CBD’s Executive Secretary.

• Significance:

  • These decisions tie up loose ends, ensuring the CBD operates efficiently and collaboratively moving forward.

Broader Context

• Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF):

  • Adopted at COP15 (2022), it’s the CBD’s roadmap to 2030, with 4 long-term goals (for 2050) and 23 short-term targets (for 2030). It aims for a world "living in harmony with nature" by 2050.

  • The Rome agreements operationalize its financial and monitoring components.

• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD):

  • Established in 1992, it’s a legally binding treaty with 196 Parties focused on conservation, sustainable use, and equitable benefit-sharing of biodiversity.

  • COP16 builds on its protocols (Cartagena on GMOs, Nagoya on genetic resources).

• "Peace with Nature":

  • A recurring theme (mentioned by Susana Muhamad and Astrid Schomaker), it reflects the CBD’s vision of reconciling human activity with ecological limits.

What This Means

• For Biodiversity: The agreements provide concrete tools—money, metrics, and private-sector involvement—to slow biodiversity loss, which threatens ecosystems, food security, and climate resilience.

• For Countries: Wealthier nations are nudged to meet funding pledges (e.g., $20 billion/year by 2025), while all Parties must improve reporting and action.

• For People: Indigenous and local communities gain funding and recognition, while industries using genetic data face new responsibilities.

Questions You Might Have

1. How will the $200 billion be raised?

   • The text lists diverse sources (public, private, multilateral), but specifics depend on future negotiations and national policies. The Cali Fund is a start for private finance.

2. What’s the biodiversity finance gap?

   • Estimates vary, but it’s likely hundreds of billions annually—far more than current spending. The $200 billion target is a step, not the full solution.

3. Will this work?

   • Success hinges on implementation. Past CBD targets (e.g., Aichi Targets) were missed due to weak follow-through. The PMRR and Cali Fund aim to address this, but political will and enforcement are key.