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The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), part of the UN Biodiversity Conference 2024, will be held in Cali, Colombia, from 21 October to 1 November.
Discover more about this significant event and how SEI is contributing.
Photo: Artush / Getty Images.
Jonathan Green / jonathan.green@sei.orgMaria Sköld / maria.skold@sei.org
COP16 will focus on implementation: how can the world deliver on the bold Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (or Global Biodiversity Framework) adopted at COP 15? Countries are expected to present their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), and negotiations will cover both resource mobilization and technical cooperation. Regulations on access and benefit-sharing will be another key topic.
SEI will be present with a delegation of experts, while additional researchers will support the process from other locations. Through side events, presentations, discussions and guidance to delegations, we will share insights on how best to advance biodiversity action. Three areas will be at the centre of SEI’s focus:
With a regional centre in Colombia’s capital, Bogotá, SEI will draw on our extensive work in the biodiverse Latin American region, but the delegation will also include experts from the SEI Headquarters and the centres SEI Africa, SEI US and SEI York (UK).
The COP presidency, Colombia, has adopted the theme “Peace with Nature” and promised this will be a “people’s COP.” SEI will contribute by sharing insights on locally driven implementation with community engagement, Indigenous knowledge and resilience at the heart.
Explore the tabs above to learn more about SEI’s participation at CBD COP16, register for events and gain expert insights into the conference’s key priorities and why they matter for advancing global biodiversity action.
In Bogota and Cali:
In Stockholm:
This CBD COP16 Hub Session, hosted by UNCTAD in partnership with SEI and JNCC, will occur just before Trade Day, a designated day focused on discussions around the intersection of international trade and biodiversity. SEI’s Jonathan Green, alongside other experts, will explore the significance of trade data and indicators – such as SEI’s GEIC indicator – for supporting biodiversity efforts and the Global Biodiversity Framework.
Date and time: 24 October 2024, 15:10–15:50 COL
Where: UN Hub, Place Quebec (Blue Zone), Cali, Colombia
Organizers: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), SEI, Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC)
Past event / Join this CBD COP16 Hub Session where SEI's Jonathan Green will explore how trade data and indicators can support the Global Biodiversity Framework.
24 October 2024 / About Supply Chains and Sustainable Development Goals
SEI York will co-organize a COP16 side event in the Blue Zone to explore strategies for reducing overconsumption in an equitable way. Drawing on research and practice from SEI and other experts, the session will focus on how to achieve the Global Biodiversity Framework’s Target 16, which addresses the global consumption footprint. Experts from various sectors will discuss challenges, solutions and actionable steps for governments and businesses to lead the way in sustainable consumption.
Date and time: 28 October 2024, 11:40-13:00 COL
Where: Centro de Eventos Valle del Pacífico, Marie Khan Women’s Caucus meeting room, Plaza One, Cali, Colombia
Organizers: SEI York, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, Consumers International, Ernst & Young, European Environmental Bureau, Global Youth Biodiversity Network, Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), OLN SFS, S Group (Finland) and WWF.
Past event / Join SEI at COP16 to explore strategies for reducing the global footprint of consumption equitably, supporting the Global Biodiversity Framework's Target 16.
28 October 2024 / About Supply Chains and Sustainable Development Goals
SEI, with support from Focali and in collaboration with FAO, Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia, Biointropic y Corporación Biotec, is hosting a COP16 Green Zone event where experts will discuss the role of biodiversity in driving the bioeconomy in tropical countries and the challenges facing non-timber forest products (NTFP) value chains. This event will focus on targets 5, 9, 14 and 15 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, highlighting sustainable use, trade and the promotion of sustainable business practices.
Date and time: 29 October 2024, 13:00–15:00 COL
Where: Universidad ECCI, Av. 4 Nte. #13N-03, Granada, Cali, Colombia
Organizers: SEI, Focali, FAO, Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia, Biointropic y Corporación Biotec
Past event / At CBD COP16, experts will analyze the challenges of value chains in the tropics and their potential for the bioeconomy.
29 October 2024 / About Bioeconomy, Food and agriculture, Forests and Public policy
SEI and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) will launch the guiding principles for the bioeconomy, developed by the Latin American Bioeconomy Network, at this COP16 Blue Zone event. Experts will discuss how these principles can support biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of resources, with a focus on high-biodiversity regions such as Latin America, Southeast Asia and Africa.
Date and time: 31 October 2024, 16:30–18:00 COL
Where: Centro de Eventos Valle del Pacífico, Marie Khan Women’s Caucus meeting room, Plaza One, Cali, Colombia
Organizers: SEI, IICA
Past event / At CBD COP16, the Latin American Bioeconomy Network will launch the guiding principles for implementing bioeconomy strategies.
31 October 2024 / About Bioeconomy, Food and agriculture, Forests and Public policy
We welcome you to connect with SEI experts on-site in Cali or online. Visit the links below on for contact details. All experts speak English, and most also speak Spanish.
Areas of expertise: The impact of trade, consumption and diets on biodiversity; how to assess value chains and trade related to deforestation and agriculture, including the Trase platform; nature-based solutions; the alignment between different sustainability agendas. He has contributed to the work of the Global Environmental Indicators of Consumption (GEIC), a component indicator for Target 16 of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
Areas of expertise: The connection between biodiversity, climate, and the SDGs. Global climate and sustainable development governance, including the connection between different global agendas. Persson is the Research Director and Deputy Director at SEI and, since 2023, is Chair of the Swedish Climate Policy Council.
Areas of expertise: Sustainable development strategies based on green economic growth, value chain management, and biodiversity conservation. Manager of SEI’s Governing Bioeconomy Pathways Initiative, articulating the work done in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Areas of expertise: Leads the Just Energy Transition team at SEI Latin America. Her work focuses on extractive industry governance and science, technology, and innovation policy that foster inclusive and sustainable development.
Areas of expertise: Water resources management and environmental governance. Focus on data science, as well as participatory decision-making processes in watershed planning and mainstreaming gender and social equity in water management.
Areas of expertise: Economist specialized in sustainability analysis, value chain analysis of agribusiness, and circular economy.
Areas of expertise: Urban and rural development planning; Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Areas of expertise: Marine and coastal resilience, including nature-based solutions and ecological restoration of coastal wetlands, Citizen Science, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, biocultural restoration, and using remote sensing tools aligned with AI for monitoring.
Areas of expertise: Water management, data-driven decision-making, participatory stakeholder processes, gender equity, social equality. Leads the Water research team at SEI Latin America.
Areas of expertise: Hydro-climatological effects related to land use and land cover transformations with an ecohydrological approach.
Areas of expertise: How hydroclimatic variables, water dynamics, vegetation, and land cover changes can be used to support decision-making and land use planning.
Areas of expertise: Climate change, especially equity aspects and effectiveness in the design of an international climate regime. Equitable Transitions Program Director at SEI US.
Areas of expertise: Platform Manager for the Fossil Fuel Atlas – a web-based GIS tool to build maps and map-based stories showing the impact of fossil fuel development on people and biodiversity. Works with the Equitable Transitions program at SEI US.
Areas of expertise: Philip Osano is the Centre Director of SEI Africa. He is an environmental policy expert with diverse research on biodiversity and ecosystem governance; land use change; pastoral and rangeland management; climate change adaptation; agricultural policy; water and land management; and integrated environmental planning.
Areas of expertise: Natural resource management, environmental planning, climate change, ecological economics, value chain analysis, and pastoral economy.
Areas of expertise: Communication lead for the Environments, Health and Wellbeing and Sustainable Consumption and Production research groupings at SEI York.
Areas of expertise: Communications Specialist at SEI Latin America responsible for SEI’s social media strategy in Spanish.
Areas of expertise: Communications Officer for SEI Latin America. Her particular interests include youth empowerment, rural development, peacebuilding, and climate change.
In Bogota and Cali:
In Stockholm:
Feature / Key COP16 biodiversity trends spotlight fresh pathways for global action, advancing commitments under the Global Biodiversity Framework.
31 October 2024 / About Bioeconomy, Ecosystems, Sustainable lifestyles and Water resources
Feature / Jonathan Green explains why the conference is crucial for tackling the global biodiversity crisis and what to expect from this landmark event.
26 September 2024 / About Ecosystems, Participation and Public policy
Feature / At COP16, SEI drives action on Target 16, focusing on equitable strategies to reduce consumption impacts on biodiversity.
17 October 2024 / About Supply Chains and Sustainable Development Goals
Feature / A record number of businesses will engage with biodiversity at COP16, driven by trends highlighting nature’s crucial role in the economy and sustainability.
10 October 2024 / About Bioeconomy, Business, Supply Chains and Sustainable Development Goals
Feature / SEI experts discuss pressing biodiversity challenges and strategies ahead of COP16 in Colombia.
22 May 2024 / About Bioeconomy, Ecosystems, Food and agriculture and Forests
Media advisory / Biodiversity COP16 presents a pivotal opportunity to turn the ambitious Global Biodiversity Framework into action. SEI researchers will offer expert commentary.
16 October 2024 / About Climate policy and Sustainable Development Goals
Feature / The "high-level principles on bioeconomy" can drive sustainability in Latin America by connecting biodiversity, climate action and development.
23 October 2024
Feature / SEI experts discuss pressing biodiversity challenges and strategies ahead of COP16 in Colombia.
22 May 2024 / About Bioeconomy, Ecosystems, Food and agriculture and Forests
Feature / Key COP16 biodiversity trends spotlight fresh pathways for global action, advancing commitments under the Global Biodiversity Framework.
31 October 2024 / About Bioeconomy, Ecosystems, Sustainable lifestyles and Water resources
Perspective / This article highlights five key topics addressed at COP16 that should shape discussions leading up to COP29 and COP30.
20 November 2024 / About Bioeconomy and Geopolitics
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