Canada is known for its rich biodiversity and extraordinary natural beauty and takes pride in playing a leadership role in global nature recovery. At the conclusion of the 16th United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16) in Cali, Colombia, Canada continued to actively work with international partners toward halting and reversing the biodiversity crisis and advocating for ambitious action to protect nature.
On behalf of Canada and the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, the Canadian delegation worked diligently-through negotiations, bilateral discussions, and side events-to bring countries together to advance the implementation of the 23 targets for 2030 laid out in the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework. They also worked to identify ways to address the key drivers of biodiversity loss, such as pollution, climate change, and overexploitation of nature. Canada and its fellow Nature Champions pushed for the conservation of 30 percent of land and water by 2030 and reaffirmed the importance of respecting the rights and roles of Indigenous peoples.
After significant collaboration with National Indigenous Organizations and international Indigenous bodies, COP16 successfully established a permanent Indigenous subsidiary body, the first of its kind in any of the UN Rio conventions. Canada welcomes this historic step forward for giving a voice to Indigenous peoples in the UN process.
The COP also established a multilateral mechanism on digital sequence information aimed at enhancing access and benefit sharing for communities and traditional knowledge holders of biodiversity.
In addition to these two historic achievements, this COP adopted a program of work to integrate nature and climate change actions. After years of work, countries also endorsed work on ecologically significant marine areas.
Canada supports the need to mobilize international biodiversity funding. Despite efforts, countries were unable to reach an agreement on critical issues, such as resource mobilization. Canada remains determined to engage with countries and non-state actors at the next opportunity to address these gaps and remains committed to working with Parties to finalize an ambitious strategy.
In addition to driving ambition in international negotiations, at COP16 Canada:
- Announced a total of $62 million for seven projects working to protect biodiversity around the world. The projects will support gender-inclusive initiatives and Indigenous-led projects for vulnerable communities to build a stronger, more sustainable future; fight climate change; protect nature; and support resilient local economies.
- Brought the Nature Champions Network together, with increased membership, and encouraged rapid global biodiversity action through effective implementation of respective national biodiversity strategies.
- Led two panels in partnership with the Indigenous Leadership Initiative to highlight the importance of collaboration with Indigenous peoples and the success of Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship in Canada. Indigenous Guardians initiatives are crucial to ensuring the sustainability of our planet for current and future generations, and innovative financing models, like the project finance for permanence, are empowering this vital work.
- Joined the 'Declaration of the World Coalition for Peace with Nature', a call for action to enhance national and international efforts and commitments toward achieving a balanced and harmonious relationship with nature.
- Joined the 'Mainstreaming Champions Group', an initiative launched at COP16 to accelerate progress on mainstreaming biodiversity across sectors to help achieve the Global Biodiversity Framework's mission, goals and targets.
Backed by over $12 billion in investments since 2015, the Government of Canada has led the largest campaign in Canadian history to support nature and nature-based climate solutions, with the goal of protecting 30 percent of land and water by 2030 and conserving species at risk, in full partnership with provinces, territories, and Indigenous peoples.
