The sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16) was held in two in-person sessions: the first session taking place in Cali, Colombia, in late 2024 and the second session concluding in Rome, Italy, from 25-27 February 2025. The conference aimed to advance global efforts toward biodiversity conservation, particularly in alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
While the initial session in Cali made significant strides in strengthening national biodiversity strategies, establishing a permanent platform for Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs), and operationalising a multilateral benefit-sharing mechanism for genetic resources, negotiations were unexpectedly suspended due to a loss of quorum. This interruption left critical decisions unresolved, necessitating the resumed session in Rome to finalise discussions on biodiversity finance, monitoring frameworks, and mechanisms for global progress review. For more details on the outcomes of the first session in Cali, please visit: UN Biodiversity Conference: Key Takeaways to Achieve “Making Peace with Nature” – International Climate Initiative (IKI) in Viet Nam.
During the resumed session in Rome, key agreements were reached on strengthening mechanisms for planning, monitoring, reporting, and review (PMRR) under the GBF that aim to track global progress toward biodiversity targets in a non-punitive and collaborative manner. The conference endorsed updates to national reporting templates, ensuring consistency in data collection for assessing biodiversity commitments. Additionally, non-state actors, including businesses and civil society, were encouraged to report their contributions toward biodiversity goals, reinforcing the broader engagement necessary for meaningful conservation efforts. Recognising the unique challenges faced by developing nations, the conference also emphasised the importance of peer-reviewed scientific data, traditional knowledge, and country-specific reports in evaluating progress.
One of the major developments was the refinement of the monitoring framework for the GBF. The conference adopted technical updates to headline and binary indicators, which provide a structured approach to measure biodiversity trends. Nations were urged to strengthen their monitoring systems to facilitate accurate reporting by 2026. Recognising the disparities in technical and financial resources between developed and developing nations, the conference called for enhanced international cooperation to support capacity building and implementation of biodiversity monitoring frameworks. Furthermore, the role of Indigenous knowledge in biodiversity conservation was acknowledged, encouraging IPLCs to actively contribute to data collection and analysis. The conference also encouraged collaboration between multilateral environmental agreements and international initiatives to streamline data-sharing efforts.
Financial mechanisms for biodiversity conservation were another critical focus of the conference. The COP adopted a revised resource mobilisation strategy to guide funding efforts from 2025 to 2030, stressing the need for increased financial contributions from all sources, including public and private sectors. A significant aspect of the strategy involved eliminating or reforming subsidies that are harmful to biodiversity while enhancing positive incentives for conservation and sustainable use. Developed nations were urged to fulfill their commitments by increasing financial aid to developing countries, particularly small island developing states and least developed countries, to help bridge financial gaps in biodiversity conservation. The conference also underscored the importance of social and environmental safeguards in biodiversity financing to ensure ethical and sustainable implementation.
Discussions also focused on operationalising the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBF Fund) and strengthening the role of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The conference encouraged countries to actively engage in the GEF’s funding mechanisms, ensuring that allocated resources are effectively utilised. It also highlighted the need to scale up financial contributions to the GBF Fund, particularly from private sector stakeholders, to enhance resource mobilisation. The conference emphasised the importance of ensuring that Indigenous Peoples, women, and youth have equitable access to biodiversity funding, reinforcing a more inclusive approach to global conservation efforts. Additionally, measures were proposed to improve financial tracking, increase transparency, and enhance coordination among different biodiversity financing instruments.
Looking ahead, the conference established an intersessional process to further develop criteria for financial mechanisms and to assess existing funding structures before the next COP sessions. By COP17, recommendations will be made to enhance biodiversity financing, and by COP19, a decision will be reached on a permanent institutional structure for biodiversity financial mechanisms. The discussions also touched on strengthening collaboration between biodiversity and climate finance initiatives, recognising the interconnected nature of these environmental challenges. The conference also called for increased efforts to mainstream biodiversity considerations into global financial systems, ensuring long-term sustainability in conservation funding.
Viet Nam’s participation in CBD COP16 at both sessions reaffirmed its commitment to global biodiversity conservation. The delegation, comprising representatives from former Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, actively engaged in plenary sessions, multilateral discussions, and high-level meetings, addressing critical issues such as resource mobilisation, biodiversity-climate linkages, and fostering harmony between nature and development.
The COP16’s outcomes present both opportunities and responsibilities for Viet Nam. Specifically, agreements on planning, monitoring, and financial mechanisms help Viet Nam strengthen its biodiversity policies, ensuring alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The focus on biodiversity finance, including subsidy reforms and increased funding, presents opportunities for Viet Nam to secure resources for conservation. The recognition of indigenous knowledge and local community involvement supports its ongoing efforts to integrate traditional practices into biodiversity management. Moving forward, Viet Nam should translate these commitments into action, leveraging international support and innovative financing to achieve its conservation goals.
