COP16: "Now we need immediate action"

The world's countries have agreed on how to stop the accelerating extinction of animals and plants. A financing plan for the protection of biodiversity has been approved. IVL's expert Eskil Mattsson shares his thoughts below.

Negotiations at last autumn's UN COP16 meeting in Colombia collapsed. Following extraordinary negotiations in Rome, after three days of discussions, the countries were able to make compromises and reach an agreement.

It is positive that the countries managed to reach an agreement in a turbulent geopolitical time. But now we need immediate action. Much work remains, if we are to reverse the negative trend of biodiversity loss.  
Eskil Mattsson

Some comments on this news from Eskil Mattsson, IVL's biodiversity expert:
"It is an important milestone that a financing plan for biodiversity protection has been finalized, with a target of €200 billion per year up to 2030. This will allow countries to secure the financial resources needed to implement the agreed Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Another achievement of the meeting seems to be that countries have agreed on rules and methods to measure and compare biodiversity trends by way of indicators. This is needed for the upcoming review that the countries will carry out next year, which is aimed at assessing the current state of biodiversity.

The Cali Fund, to which companies accessing digital genetic information must contribute, was also launched. It will ensure that countries are compensated when companies use genetic information from different species found within their borders.

These are important steps, and it is positive that the countries managed to reach an agreement in a turbulent geopolitical time. But now we need immediate action. Much work remains, if we are to reverse the negative trend of biodiversity loss, and protect 30% of all the Earth's area, on land and at sea, by 2030."

In case of questions, contact:
Eskil Mattsson, eskil.mattsson@ivl.se, tel. +46 (0)10-788 67 34