Rome, Italy, In a step forward towards nature protection, Greenpeace welcomes a biodiversity finance design but warns promises made at COP15 to deliver much-needed funding must urgently materialise, prioritising direct access to funding for Indigenous Peoples and local communities. The agreement today sets out a roadmap until COP19 in 2030 to bridge the US$700 billion biodiversity finance gap and develop a future-proof financial architecture to manage existing and new financial instruments.
An Lambrechts, Head of Greenpeace COP16 delegation said: "This is a helpful move in maintaining trust that the nature finance gap can be closed but it's only one side of the coin, and we urgently need to see the other side too: money on the table. That means rapid delivery of US$20 billion per year of public funding as of this year and Cali Fund contributions from Big Pharma and Big Ag that amount to at least 1% of their revenues. The processes reached here in Rome will also need to eliminate subsidies that harm nature and lead to new, transparent, equitable and just ways to generate finance."
Laura Caicedo, Campaigns Coordinator, Greenpeace Colombia said:"Amid a challenging global political context, the agreement in Rome demonstrates that the message 'no finance, no protection' has reached the negotiating room. It is now crucial that Global North countries honour their commitments and translate today's decisions into real funding to protect biodiversity in Latin America and the world. This progress would send a positive signal ahead of COP30 in Brazil. The current crisis demands action, not promises. The effective mobilisation of these resources is essential to tackle environmental challenges with real solutions."
Fred Njehu, Pan African Political Strategist, Greenpeace Africa said: "No one country is immune to the cost of biodiversity loss: financing nature protection demands collective global cooperation from all countries. African countries have long been on this journey, to achieve a fair deal on financing mechanisms and resource mobilisation. Today's agreement is a step forward but not enough. The world must reflect on the current biodiversity crisis we are facing, and establish a finance mechanism that is fit for purpose without wasting any more time."
