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What’s the UN Biodiversity COP16 – and why does it matter to the UK?

The UN Biodiversity COP16 – the most important nature conference you’ve probably never heard of – started this week. 

The conference in Cali, Colombia is a unique chance for our leaders to step up and protect the planet and species we love and depend on – before it’s too late. 

Many countries (including the UK) are dangerously behind on their commitments to protect and restore nature. 

Here’s what you need to know.

What is the UN Biodiversity COP16?

You’ve heard of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP), which meets for the 29th time next month in Baku, Azerbaijan. But you might not have heard of the less widely-publicised United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP). 

CBD COP is a summit that happens every two years, where governments from around the world meet to discuss how they plan to preserve and protect the natural world, including forests, oceans and animal species under threat. 

This year it’s happening in Cali, Colombia, from 21 October to 1 November. This is the 16th meeting. 

Why is COP16 important now?

At the last round of talks in Montreal, Canada in 2022, nearly 200 governments agreed on a set of international targets (the Global Biodiversity Framework) to halt and reverse the destruction of the natural world by 2030. 

The Global Biodiversity Framework outlines how 30% of land and sea will be safely protected, pesticide usage will be reduced, and harmful environmental subsidies will be changed. 

Governments agreed to submit their plans detailing how they’d actually make this happen before COP16 – but so far only 29 countries have done so. 

This COP is so important because it’s when delegates are expected to commit to plans of action. With just over five years left to meet these targets, we need governments to lead the charge in protecting our beautiful green and blue planet. 

There’s no time to waste: we’re losing habitats and species faster than previously thought. The current pace of progress is so slow that the goal to protect 30% of the world’s oceans will be missed by eighty years.

Shockingly, the UK is one of Earth’s most nature-depleted countries: one in six species are threatened with extinction, and 95 species of animals, plants, and fungi have already disappeared. Yet the UK is one of the nations yet to submit their plans. 

What’s Greenpeace doing?

We’ve already written to UK ministers, asking them to fight for nature in the COP16 negotiations. We’re also in the room, holding officials to account and calling on them to up their policy ambition and put their money where their mouths are. 

We’re pushing the UK government to contribute its fair share to fund global biodiversity protection as well as setting up a national plan for restoring nature at home. 

This must include fully protecting the network of ocean sanctuaries around the UK from all types of destructive activity, so that marine life has a chance to bounce back. 

And of course, after decades of campaigning for countries to agree to put 30% of the global oceans off limits from harmful human activity, we now need governments to sign the Global Ocean Treaty into law in their own countries, so they can actually get to the business of protecting life above and below the waves – and that includes here in the UK. 

Check out our 5 demands to governments to protect biodiversity at CBD COP16. 

How can I get involved?

This decade is critical for the future of life on Earth – which means your voice matters now more than ever. Here’s how you can play a part:

Email your MP with this quick, pre-written message

Email your MP with this quick, pre-written message

Encourage your MP to champion the oceans at our Westminster event next month – particularly the beautiful, biodiversity-rich Sargasso Sea.

Aerial view of the Arctic Sunrise deck with a ‘ghost net’ that was retrieved from the Sargasso Sea on display and a 'Protect the Oceans' banner.

Get the UK government to sign the Global Ocean Treaty into law

Sign our petition to demand the UK government sign the Global Ocean Treaty into law, which is the only viable way to protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030.

A woman stands with a full body sized placard reading UN Biodiversity COP Stop nature destruction Save lives! Greenpeace. Behind her is a row of giant dominoes with pictures of wildlife on them, one of them is leaning into the next

Write to global leaders at COP16

Send your personal “hope for nature” message to world leaders to urge them to fight for our planet at COP16. You can see other people’s messages from across the globe on this world map.