London, September 17, 2024 – Amid applause, the Minister of Environment, Susana Muhamad, was recognized during her speech at the Natural History Museum in London, one of the most prestigious global research institutes in conservation and epicenter of the event prior to the COP16 'Vamos a Colombia', which was supported by the Embassy of Colombia in the United Kingdom and WWF.
In her speech, the incoming COP16 president highlighted the three main objectives of Colombia as host country of the most important global summit on biodiversity.
“The first is that we have to make biodiversity the other side of the coin of decarbonization and energy transition. It has to be the second strategic movement of humanity in the 21st century; our second objective is that this is really the COP of the People, and that means confronting the deepest conflicts that we have to face in this world; and then our third objective is that Peace with Nature can become an agenda to recognize that we are part of nature, to value it,”, said Muhamad.
The UK Secretary of State for the Environment, Steve Reed, and the director of the Natural History Museum, Doug Gurr, highlighted the Minister's leadership as the future chair of the COP on biodiversity.
From London's iconic Natural History Museum, Environment Minister Susana Muhamad highlighted Colombia's three objectives as host country of COP16.
The minister also thanked the UK Secretary of State for the Environment, Steve Reed, who, in turn, highlighted her leadership. “The whole room was moved by her passion to protect and restore nature. It is that passion and drive that makes her such an outstanding chair of the COP this year,” said Reed.
During the event, which was also attended by the Ambassador of Colombia to the United Kingdom, Roy Barreras; the Colombian Foreign Minister, Luis Gilberto Murillo; and the Minister of Agriculture, Martha Carvajalino, the importance of COP16 in addressing global challenges related to biodiversity was highlighted and the urgency of implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Framework was underscored.
The renowned Colombian band Monsieur Periné closed the evening performing “Jardín del Paraíso”, a song that speaks of the country's biodiversity.
Colombia is recognized for its leadership at COP16
Doug Gurr, director of the Natural History Museum in Londonnoted that Colombia's leadership, as one of the 17 megadiverse countries in the world, will be key in the implementation of the global biodiversity plan agreements.
“The most important thing we need to do now is to protect and restore natural biodiversity and it is absolutely brilliant that one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, which is Colombia, is hosting it. There is no better place to demonstrate the importance than by protecting biodiversity. I am very excited about this COP16 because this is the year of implementation. We had a great celebration of COP15 with the Global Biodiversity Framework, but this is the COP that will make it happen. And Colombia's leadership will be extraordinary. We are excited about what we can achieve,” said Gurr.
The day closed with a special performance by the Colombian band Monsieur Periné, who connected attendees with the rich biodiversity of the Colombian Pacific through their music, performing the song 'Jardín del Paraíso' and other of their hits.