The world’s largest biodiversity summit, COP16, took place in Cali, Columbia last week, with heads of states, ministers, UN representatives, NGOs, academics, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, leaders, entrepreneurs, artists and more in attendance.
The discussion revolved around how to bring about a nature positive world, and reached several landmark decisions including the establishment of people of African descendant Indigenous Peoples as key stewards in conservation efforts, and the creation of a global fund for collecting economic resources from nature’s genetic data and fair equitable distribution.
Yet, as encouraging as these signs were, it is clear there remains a pressing need for concrete action, particularly in closing the huge financing gap for biodiversity. The summit revealed a lack of definition over financing to implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Framework for Biodiversity, a global plan that was adopted during COP15 in Canada to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, as well as how to monitor and measure progress of countries in complying with the roadmap to protect biodiversity.
Key takeaways from COP16 for companies wanting to communicate about biodiversity and climate issues effectively:
1. Connect biodiversity to wellbeing
Tackling the nature crisis is no longer just an issue for 'environmentalists', it has become a societal movement as we are increasingly aware that the health of ecosystems, biodiversity, and the climate are interconnected. The loss of biodiversity leads to degraded ecosystems, which not only accelerates climate change but also weakens natural resilience against floods, droughts, and other climate impacts, seen by the recent Valencia floods. Marketing campaigns and strategies which connect biodiversity to our human emotions and needs can help make campaigns more relatable, engaging and overall more powerful.
2. Share community stories and elevate local and indigenous voices
The summit’s creation of a formal body for Indigenous and local community representation highlights the importance of collaborative, inclusive climate projects which take a holistic approach, supporting nature and the local community. Empowering the local community to be stewards of biodiversity is essential to a nature positive world and its longevity. Take a look at our mangrove restoration project in coastal Kenya, where communities are dependent on the mangrove ecosystems for employment, livelihood, and nutrition. Restoring the forest not only restores the mangrove ecosystem, but also provides additional income streams such as fishing.
3. Commit to funding nature-based solutions
Resolutely clear is that funding nature-based solutions remains more urgent and impactful than ever, in our path to nature positive. Nature-based solutions, such as reforestation, wetland restoration, and sustainable agriculture, are key to COP16’s Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. By committing to fund nature-based solutions, organisations not only contribute to immediate climate action but also help build long-term resilience against climate impacts. Committing to long-term, sustainable climate action is a much greater story to tell than a one-off action.
As the urgency for climate action grows, so too does the opportunity for meaningful change. Platforms like Climategames are key for organisations to invest in nature-based solutions while also helping tell impactful stories along the way.
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