Flock of dunlin © Bertie Gregory/2020VISION
Wildlife Trusts Wales and COP16
The global 'nature' conference taking place in Colombia
21st October - 1st November 2024
What is COP16?
COP stands for 'Conference of the Parties', which are regular United Nations (UN) conferences on its different conventions (written legal agreements between countries and the UN).
This year the 16th nature or 'biodiversity' Conference of the Parties (COP16 for short) will take place from 21st October to 1st November 2024, in Cali, Colombia.
COP16 will be the first nature COP since the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which was established at COP15 in December 2022. At COP16, governments will review how well the framework is being adopted by member countries and assess progress against the targets it contains.
The Global Biodiversity Framework
The Global Biodiversity Framework follows years of global negotiations and supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. It aims to set the world on track to living in harmony with nature by 2050.
Among the Framework’s key elements are four goals for 2050 (seen down the left column of the diagram) and 23 targets for 2030.
What do Wildlife Trusts Wales want to see from COP16?
Two years ago, nearly 200 countries came together to agree a Global Biodiversity Framework. At the time it was enthusiastically championed by Wales – but we’ve yet to see progress on halting, let alone reversing, nature loss. It is vital that the Welsh Government puts in place policies and funding to reduce river pollution, protect more land for nature and halve the use of pesticides, otherwise this country will fail its targets and completely undermine the international agreement.
Wildlife Trusts Wales have published a new report Local to Global: the Global Biodiversity Framework and what Wales needs to do to implement it, which outlines the steps Welsh Government must take to reverse nature loss and meet global targets.
The Welsh Government must announce bold action for nature at home on the international stage. At present, we are only on course to meet four out of our 40 domestic environmental targets. The UK also continues to be one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world.
Wildlife Trusts Wales are calling on the Welsh Government to take swift action on the following promises
© Lizzie Wilberforce
Protect 30% of land and sea by 2030
The Welsh Government played a key role in setting this global goal and has promised to meet it at home. However, the UK and Wales are falling behind, with only 2.93% of land in England properly protected for nature and just 9.7% of the sea effectively managed.
A rainbow trout, Alexander Mustard/2020VISION
Halve pesticide harm and clean up rivers by 2030
The Global Biodiversity Framework goals include halving the damage from pesticides and reducing pollution from excess nutrients. To achieve this, Wales needs to release a National Action Plan for Pesticides (which is already six years overdue) and ensure environmental regulators can enforce penalties when water pollution laws are broken.
What Wildlife Trusts Wales will be doing
Throughout COP16, Wildlife Trusts Wales will be shining a spotlight on the positive and inspirational actions that can be taken by governments, by businesses and by individuals too, in an inclusive way, to help limit and cope with the impacts of the global crisis and restore nature.
Exeter skyline
Actions you can take
If you’re looking for ideas for how you can take action yourself at home, in your community or workplace, have a look at our action pages. We also have resources specifically designed for children and young people too!
Noisy flocks of pink-footed geese are a celebrated sound of autumn © David Tipling/2020VISION
Our priorities for the Welsh Government
Our report, Local to Global: the Global Biodiversity Framework and what Wales needs to do to implement it outlines the steps Welsh Government must take to reverse nature loss and meet global targets.
Stand for Nature project
The Stand for Nature Project is run by the five Wildlife Trusts in Wales with the purpose of tackling climate change with the help of the young people of Wales. For the last three years, the project has worked to empower and inspire young people to take action for nature and wildlife in their local area in a bid to tackle climate change. From urban Cardiff to rural Montgomeryshire, young people are standing for nature and their futures.
To mark the end of its youth-led climate and nature project Wildlife Trusts Wales invited Members of the Senedd (MSs) to meet some of the young people from across Wales who have been involved in this inspiring project. The young people have produced a Youth Manifesto for COP16 ahead of COP 16 which takes place in Cali, Colombia between October 21st October and 1st November.
Over 30 young people met MS's and this is what they had to say:
A Youth Manifesto for COP 16
Wildlife Trust Wales are giving young people a voice ahead of COP 16
Want to find out more?
During COP16, The Wildlife Trusts will be sharing bitesize video updates live from the action in Columbia - helping to explain these complex discussions in an easily digestible way. We'll also be sharing what these conversations mean for us here in the UK and Wales - and the actions we want to see Welsh Government take as a result. See the latest update below: