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This issue wraps up the COP16 biodiversity talks in Cali. The next issue of Biodiversity Pulse will be out on Thursday, Nov. 7.

COP16

UN biodiversity talks cut short amid delegate departures, but scores successes

Sixteen hours on overtime the COP16 UN biodiversity talks in Colombia were abruptly suspended, after so many delegates left to catch flights that the meeting could no longer legally make decisions, though before that negotiators had approved a DSI fund and a special body for Indigenous Peoples.

Armenia to host 2026 UN biodiversity talks

Delegates at COP16 in Colombia on Thursday voted for Armenia as host of the next biodiversity summit in two years’ time, narrowly beating neighbour and climate COP29 host Azerbaijan.

Brazilian organisation clinches deal to sell first biodiversity credits

A Brazilian organisation is set to market its first biodiversity credits generated through three separate projects across the country, with a philanthropic institution already committed to buying them.

First batch of companies announce science-based nature targets

The Science Based Targets Network (SBTN) on Wednesday announced a first batch of companies that have set targets under its framework, with three major corporations taking on commitments related to freshwater and land.

Group launches bioeconomy coalition to scale sustainable markets, finance in the Amazon

A group of over 20 organisations on Wednesday launched a coalition to promote bioeconomy across the Amazon region, looking at the biodiversity credit market as a possible means to scale financing.

Guterres urges governments to ramp up efforts on nature financing, national plans

Governments at the ongoing COP16 biodiversity summit must ramp up their efforts to break the deadlock on the toughest issues under discussion, as talks still hang in the balance with only two days to go, the UN secretary-general told a press conference on Wednesday.

Emergency session finds early cash for coral reefs, urges immediate action

A special emergency session on coral reefs at the UN biodiversity talks in Colombia on Wednesday urgently called for increased funding for reef protection, with a handful of governments and philanthropies putting up an initial $150 million for a global fund.

Global South alliance signals biodiversity financing “not working for us”

A group of ministers from 20 countries in the Global South have published a statement seeking urgent action to boost biodiversity financing for developing countries, while flagging issues with the global fund intended to support them.

Talks in Cali fail to address critical minerals exploitation, NGOs say

Not enough has been done so far at COP16 to address exploitation of minerals for the green energy transition, especially in Indigenous Peoples’ lands, a group of NGOs said Thursday.

Countries launch ‘champions group’ for mainstreaming biodiversity

A group of 17 countries led by Colombia and Mexico have announced they are establishing a special group at COP16 to drive progress on mainstreaming biodiversity, following what they said are attempts to undermine the policy.

BUSINESS & FINANCE

World Bank, IDB introduce guidelines for sustainable finance instruments in the Amazon

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the World Bank on Oct. 29 announced new guidelines for Amazonia Bonds, a capital markets instrument aimed at financing projects that benefit biodiversity, local communities, and zero-deforestation initiatives across the Amazon.

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BITE-SIZED UPDATES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

COP16

Trickling in – On the sidelines of COP16 there has been disappointment over the few National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs) that met the pre-COP deadline for submission to the UN. However, there has been some developments underway, with countries like Argentina, India, Iran, and Russia submitting their NBSAPs during the COP, taking the number of plans to 44, according to a CBD tracker. The number of national targets submitted stands at 2,716, from 119 parties.

Money on table – At the sidelines of COP16 in Cali, France and Gabon announced a $60 mln ‘Country Package’ for Forests, Nature, and Climate collaboration that also includes support for the Project Finance for Permanence (PFP). France, the Fonds d’amorcage des Partenariats Pays, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) representing the Enduring Earth partnership, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and the UNDP will work together to support Gabon’s commitments to forests, nature, and climate via the Global Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN), said an announcement by the TNC.

BUSINESS & FINANCE

Candidates – China’s Huatai Securities and a group of conservation partners have chosen 12 ‘Outstanding Potential Candidates’ as the country’s first Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs), they announced this week, after having issued a call for proposals in August. The shortlist included the Peking University Campus Conservation Area. Another 34 areas, including the Nanjing Olympic Center, were named ‘Potential Candidates’. The conglomerate behind the initiative was present at COP16 in Cali, where they launched a small grant OECM Fund, though without disclosing the amount of money involved.

POLICY

Brazilian deal – Non-profit Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Brazil and the country’s ministry of environment launched on Thursday a protocol of intent to boost biodiversity conservation within the country. The partnership aims at establishing innovative environmental financing mechanisms through the WCS’s High Integrity Forests Investment Initiative (HIFOR), strengthening protected area management, and combating wildlife trafficking. The non-profit will also support the ministry in the regulation of Other Effective Conservation Measures (OECMs), it said in a statement.

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