COP16 talks on biodiversity resume in Rome. Here's what's at the top of the agenda

The UN conference on biodiversity resumes in Rome, prioritizing the allocation and increase of financial resources essential for conservation efforts. Building on previous outcomes from COP16 in Colombia, stakeholders aim to structure plans to implement the 2022 COP15 agreement, which aimed to protect 30% of the Earth's ecosystems by 2030. Despite setbacks, including the loss of quorum at the last conference, a commitment to mobilize $20 billion annually by 2025—to reach $30 billion by 2030—remains crucial for preserving biological diversity.

"Montreal was about the 'what'-what are we all working towards together? Cali was supposed to focus on the 'how'-putting the plans and the financing in place to ensure we can actually implement this framework."

"They eventually lost a quorum because people simply went home, and so now we're having to finish these last critical decisions, which are some of the nitty-gritty decisions on financing, on resource mobilization, and on the planning and monitoring and reporting requirements under the Global Biodiversity Framework."

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