Ibagué (Tolima), September 19, 2024 – As a result of the Summit of Governors and directors of the Regional Autonomous Corporations towards COP16, as well as the commitment of the regions to the success of the COP16, the country's regional leaders and the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Susana Muhamad, signed a new manifesto for the protection and conservation of biodiversity on the planet.
The Summit of Governors and directors of Regional Autonomous Corporations (CAR) of the country towards COP16 was the scenario for the signing of a manifesto for the protection and conservation of biodiversity between the heads of departments and the Minister of Environment, Susana Muhamad.
“This is a magnificent opportunity for us as a country to have this political dialogue on biodiversity, which is rarely seen at this level. We are using the opportunity of the COP16 to make a collective national and regional reflection on the country's environmental situation and this is already a great legacy of bringing the COP to Colombia and of our being the venue; it begins to be one of the issues at the center of the policy and not at the margins of it,”said the Minister of Environment, Susana Muhamad.
Strengthening the protection of natural heritage, halting the loss of biodiversity in the regions and strategies to promote the bioeconomy are some of the proposals that were signed.
Governors and CAR directors commit to COP16
This document reflects the visions of the territories for COP16 and includes proposals such as a comprehensive strategy to promote the bioeconomy, food sustainability, responsible tourism and biodiversity conservation in the Andes; actions for the conservation of the Amazon; the energy transformation of the Caribbean region and the protection of its ecosystems, among others.
During the summit, the Minister of the Environment, Susana Muhamad, assured that there is a real regional commitment to COP16 and called on the region to continue working for the construction, with concrete actions, of Peace with Nature.
The Minister also emphasized that this meeting allows us to talk about “the significance of biodiversity, territorial conflicts and the importance of structural reforms in order to fulfill the purposes of the summit. Here there is a commitment from the regional governments and the national government to COP16 and we are all seeing that this is a moment to make transformations that go through Congress and also through the way we work from the regions”.
In this sense, the head of the environmental portfolio reiterated the willingness of the National Government to work together, from the regions and hand in hand with the communities, in order to make Peace with Nature a reality.