Canada is known for its rich biodiversity and extraordinary natural beauty and takes pride in playing a leadership role in global nature recovery. As the host country for COP15 in 2022, Canada played a key role in leading the world to the adoption of the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework. At the 16th United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16), to be hosted by Colombia in October 2024, Canada will continue to advance global action toward tackling the biodiversity crisis and protecting nature.
Today, the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change, will meet with H.E. Susana Muhamad, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia, to discuss shared biodiversity, environment, and climate priorities in advance of Colombia's hosting of COP16, "The People's COP." Both ministers will also take part in a panel discussion with stakeholders on the challenges and opportunities for COP16.
The Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework is a historic agreement between more than 190 countries aims to safeguard nature, and halt and reverse biodiversity loss around the world. Now, as Colombia takes up the torch as the host of COP16 this fall, Canada and Colombia will jointly advocate for ambitious global implementation of the framework.
Recently, Canada released its 2030 Nature Strategy, which lays out a path for how it will implement the framework domestically. Canada engaged with all levels of government, Indigenous groups, and stakeholders to ensure that the strategy reflects the diversity of Canadian perspectives and issues, and establishes a shared vision to address biodiversity loss.
Furthermore, to protect nature for future generations, Canada introduced the Nature Accountability Bill in Parliament. The bill includes requirements for the government to develop national biodiversity strategies and action plans, like Canada's 2030 Nature Strategy, and to report on their implementation. The introduction of the bill makes Canada one of the first countries in the world to propose legislation enshrining an accountability and transparency framework to meet the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework commitments.
Canada also launched the Nature Champions Network, a ministerial-level group that focuses on fostering international awareness and understanding of the framework. Ministers Guilbeault and Muhamad look forward to the nature champions promoting ambitious goals at COP16 to ensure effective implementation of respective national biodiversity strategies and action plans by Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Backed by over $12 billion in investments since 2015, the Government of Canada has led the broadest 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. Canada continues to make significant investments both at home and abroad to support the implementation of global biodiversity goals.
