China hands over the presidency of COP16 on biodiversity to Colombia

Photo: COP16 Colombia.

The Colombian Minister of Environment, Susana Muhamad, assumed the presidency of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the Convention on Biological Diversity, succeeding the Chinese Minister of Ecology and Environment, Huang Runqiu, in an opening ceremony attended by 196 countries.

Huang congratulated Colombia for its commitment in organizing COP16 and for taking on the leadership that China held for six years in biodiversity protection. He also highlighted China’s efforts in promoting conservation through international cooperation and legislation.

During his speech, Minister Huang emphasized the importance of the Kunming-Montreal framework, an international agreement aimed at protecting global biodiversity. He stressed that the true value of this agreement lies not only in its goals and targets but in the effective implementation of its provisions.

Huang also called for the mobilization of financial resources from various sectors, including governments, international organizations, and civil society, to address global biodiversity loss and advance the commitments made.

For her part, Colombian Minister Susana Muhamad presented Colombia’s Biodiversity Action Plan, designed to protect and conserve nature through 2030, in alignment with the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Framework. Muhamad stated that the Colombian government would work with all sectors to drive an economic transformation that promotes sustainability, emphasizing the need for nature to no longer be harmed by human actions. She also highlighted the importance of integrating indigenous peoples into the COP16 negotiations, valuing their ancestral knowledge in environmental protection.

COP16, which will run until November 1, will have the participation of more than 20,000 people and will offer academic and cultural activities in the Green Zone. Huang reaffirmed China’s support for Colombia’s presidency, expressing his desire to collaborate on implementing the Kunming-Montreal framework and the Kunming Biodiversity Fund, with the aim of strengthening governance in global biodiversity conservation.

Main source:

China entrega a Colombia presidencia de COP16 sobre biodiversidad – El País Costa Rica.