WCC feature: Biodiversity COP16: ethical imperatives, Indigenous perspectives—and the work ahead

The World Council of Churches (WCC) participated in the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity held in Cali, Colombia, from 21 October to 1 November. The conference, under the theme "Peace with Nature,” drew 23,000 participants from 196 countries. The Faiths for Biodiversity coalition organised a multi-stakeholder dialogue. Photo: Louk Andrianos/WCC 04 November 2024 A 10-person WCC delegation for COP16 came from the WCC Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development, WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, and WCC Ecumenical Indigenous Peoples Reference Group, as well as local churches and ecumenical organisations. Global input On a global level, the WCC contributed to the Faiths for Biodiversity Coalition report “Uniting for Nature: Faiths at the Forefront of Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Implementation” which was shared with the Convention on Biological Diversity executive secretary Astrid Schomaker. The report provides case studies showing how faith-based organizations around the world are, in many creative ways, making “Peace with Nature.” “Faith groups will find guidance on environmental care, while civil society organizations and businesses can explore partnerships with religious communities,” reads the introduction. Side events bring vital input The WCC also organized side events entitled “Tackling the intertwined biodiversity and climate crisis as two sides of the same coin,” “Indigenous perspectives and ethical imperatives for Biodiversity and Creation Justice,” and “Protecting nature through Ecocide Law: an interfaith conversation.” Through these side events, Indigenous voices were brought into focus. Jocabed Solano, from the Gunadule nation, an Indigenous community in Panama, urged people to strive for “well living” rather than “living well.” He spoke of how structural greed is pushing people to do everything possible to live well using creation, but “well living” is  about seeking harmony and peace with all creation through ecological spirituality. Kallan Benson, WCC Commissioner on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development, reflects on the intersection between climate change and biodiversity loss from a youth perspective. Photo: Neddy Astudillo Colombia brings historic moments For the WCC, the Colombia location for COP16 was deeply meaningful as the WCC is a permanent accompanier for peace talks with the Estado Mayor Central (EMC) FARC-EP. The tie between peace and biodiversity was clearly evident.  Together with DiPaz and other Colombian ecumenical partners, the WCC co-organised a series of events at the Baptist University on “Territories, peace, and biodiversity,” as well as an Ecumenical Service on Biodiversity COP16. COP16 in Cali was the most well-attended Biodiversity COP since the inauguration of such COPs in 1993, founded by governments aiming to halt the alarming rate of biodiversity loss threatening the web of life on Earth.  At COP16, governments and civil society representatives discussed the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the alignment of their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans with the framework. Negotiations extended into 2 November. COP16 established a subsidiary body and work programme that will include Indigenous peoples in future decisions. This move recognises and protects Indigenous traditional knowledge for the benefit of global and national biodiversity management.  Solano described this as a historic moment for Indigenous peoples. “The value of the traditional knowledge of Indigenous peoples, Afro-descendants, and local communities is recognized, a historical debt in the Convention on Biological Diversity of 26 years is settled,” Solano said. In another significant outcome, COP16 reached agreement on a multilateral mechanism for sharing the benefits of using biological genetic information, known as digital sequencing information. Under this agreement, companies that profit from the use of this information would pay compensation into a fund, known as the Cali Fund. This new funding mechanism has the potential to raise significant resources for biodiversity protection. However, contributions will be voluntary. WCC COP16 delegates at the High-level Segment of COP16. Photo: WCC The work ahead In addition to historic moments, COP16 brought some disappointments to the WCC delegation and other faith-based and civic groups. COP16 failed to deliver on a broader global biodiversity fund and resource mobilization strategy. According to studies, nearly $100 billion is needed to safeguard biodiversity. Developed countries are missing commitments to provide $20 billion annually in international biodiversity financing by 2025. Pledges to a Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, an interim funding mechanism, totaled $407 million. Athena Peralta, director of the WCC Commission on Climate Justice and Sustainable Development, said that it is critical to invest in our ecosystems. “Wealthy nations who are more responsible for biodiversity loss and have benefited the most from global development must step up and fund biodiversity restoration,” she said. By the end of COP16, 44 revised National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans were submitted and 119 parties submitted revised national targets, representing around 63% of countries. Peter Prove, director of the WCC Commission of the Churches on International Affairs, said that, given the latest evidence of accelerating biodiversity loss, even in protected areas, states attending COP16 should have been galvanized by an acute sense of urgency and responsibility.  “But two years after the Kunming-Montreal agreement on a Global Biodiversity Framework, only 60% of states have formulated National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans to implement their commitments under the Global Biodiversity Framework.” Practical actions Yet the WCC delegation came away with a rejuvenated resolve to suggest and inspire practical actions to increase biodiversity.  Dr Louk Andrianos, WCC consultant for Care for Creation, Sustainability, and Climate Justice, urged acting on all levels of society and churches to share hope with creation.  “We  need to repent and change our  greedy systemic and individual behaviour when producing, distributing, and consuming natural resources,” he said. “Meat overconsumption, plastic overuse, chemical intensive farming, and genetic manipulations of species for corporate benefits are example of the ongoing war of human beings with nature.”   WCC advocates for creation care and justice at start of triple COP journey (WCC news release, 24 October 2024) WCC, ACT Alliance, and Lutheran World Federation issue joint call to action for biodiversity (WCC news release, 30 October 2024) See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa.  Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland