COP16’s outcomes were not perfect, and we can always go further and faster, but real and meaningful progress was made towards a healthier planet.
Almost 100 days have passed since the close of COP16 in Cali, Colombia.
Nearly 200 governments, and thousands of scientists, business leaders, indigenous voices and campaigners came together to attend the world’s largest ever biodiversity summit.
COP16’s outcomes were not perfect, and we can always go further and faster, but real and meaningful progress was made towards a healthier planet. The establishment of the ‘Cali fund’, which has the potential to raise $1 billion a year for biodiversity from the use of Digital Sequencing Information (DSI) on genetic resources, was a breakthrough. Large companies which benefit from DSI can now pay into the fund which sets aside 50% of the money put in for the needs of indigenous people and local communities, so that they can finally start sharing in the profits.
Further advancements were made on supporting the participation of indigenous people in implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), agreed at COP15 in Montreal with the goal of protecting and restoring 30% of land and sea by 2030.
However, I found it disappointing that key decisions including around establishing a new wider biodiversity fund were kicked down the road. I attended the last UN Water Week in New York – I know how much needs to be done and that the expertise and will to do it is out there, but until we have global consensus this work is hindered.
I attended COP16 as a proud Vice Chair of the International Conservation Caucus Foundation’s UK parliamentary group. We were recognised by the UK Government and made up a part of their official delegation, and alongside cross-party colleagues, I enjoyed a front row seat to the negotiations.
It was especially meaningful to be present in Cali, as a few short weeks prior, I had the privilege of hosting the Colombian Foreign Minister and Ministers of Environment and Finance in UK Parliament, alongside Britain’s nature Minister and her officials – our discussions were productive and consensus building ahead of COP16.
As representatives for the UK we participated in the dedicated parliamentary forum organised by the Colombian Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with ICCF, to deliberate with elected representatives from around the world on agreeing the COP16 Parliamentary Declaration.
The 18-point declaration reaffirmed the commitment of legislators present to the Global Biodiversity Framework and pushed for high ambition outcomes at COP16, including integrating biodiversity considerations into key economic sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, tourism and resource management. For legislators, it also consolidated understanding about our role in implementing international agreements and ensuring policy coherence in our own territories.
In the UK, the Labour Government is committed to delivering a green transition and I am proud to support the efforts, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, to fulfill our promise to voters and further conservation efforts around the world. I was really pleased to see the appointment of the UK’s first ever Special Envoy for Nature, Ruth Davis, to support this work.
We are building on the bold climate ambitions this Government has already set out – including our world-leading target to reduce emissions by 81% by 2035. It should be a source of shame that the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. In this parliament we will build on the cross-party achievements of previous governments and take action to improve responsible access to nature in Britain, expand nature-rich habitats such as wetlands and peat bogs, plant millions of trees to save the British woodland, and clean up our rivers. Our ambition is not only environmental protection - meeting UK Environment Act targets - but nature recovery.
In the changing global political context, it has never been more important to champion climate and nature on the world stage, working internationally to advocate for bolder science-based climate action.
Now, it will be the role of all parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity to realise the aspirations of COP16 and ensure that we meet ambition with action globally.
I know that the UK’s delegation are looking forward to continue working in close collaboration with our global allies and partners in our shared mission to protect the natural world, ensuring that the UK and UK Parliamentarians remain a strong voice for our planet.
By the Honorable Uma Kumaran, MP
Uma Kumaran has been the Member of Parliament for Stratford and Bow since 2024. She is a member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee and Vice Chair of the APPG on International Conservation. Before being elected to Parliament, Uma served as a Senior Advisor to the Mayor of London as well as the Director of International Relations at C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group.
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