London, September 18, 2024 – After an intense agenda of strategic meetings, the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development and next president of the COP16 on biodiversity, Susana Muhamad, successfully concluded her visit to London, where she strengthened key international alliances for the development of the global environmental agenda.
“With the British Government, with Chancellor Murillo, we managed to have a Secretary of State, which is a representation of the highest level, go to COP16. We also invited British parliamentarians to be part of COP16. We have managed to arouse great excitement in the country for the COP16 in Cali and it is a moment that we all have to take advantage of. This is the year of biodiversity in Colombia, it is the year in which we can really begin to find economic, social and inclusive ways to help us restore nature,” said Minister Muhamad.
During her meeting with a British multi-parliamentary group, the Minister presented Colombia's priorities for COP16, emphasizing the need for stronger international cooperation for the protection of biodiversity and the implementation of the Kunming Montreal Global Framework. Key issues such as financing and fair sharing of benefits derived from genetic resources were also addressed.
In meetings with British parliamentarians, experts from the London Botanic Gardens and leaders of international organizations, Minister Susana Muhamad explained Colombia's objectives in the negotiations and as host country of COP16.
British MP Uma Kumaran expressed her enthusiasm for the event, noting that “I have high hopes for this COP16, and the fact that Colombia and Cali are hosting it is very important for our planet. I want the progress made in Montreal to continue, for there to be more international collaboration, for people's voices to be at the center and for real progress to be made at this COP16”.
Earlier, during her visit to the London Botanic Gardens Kew Garden,Minister Muhamad participated in a round table on bioeconomy in which, together with nature experts, they analyzed the challenges and opportunities of COP16.
The initiatives led by Muhamad were supported by all the stakeholders with whom she held meetings, which also served to promote the most important event on biodiversity on the planet, COP16.
By the way, the Deputy Director of Science of the Kew Garden, Monique Simmons, supported Colombia's initiatives on the work plan for indigenous peoples and local communities: “I hope we can convey the importance of biodiversity, especially the importance for indigenous communities and, therefore, the real need to address the critical situation of biodiversity loss and also the interaction between biodiversity and climate”..
Strategic alliances for COP16
Finally, the day concluded with a meeting in which Muhamad and leaders of non-governmental organizations participated, the purpose of which was to present Colombia's main commitments as host country and during the negotiations that will take place at COP16.
“We are very excited about the idea of focusing on the connections between nature and climate and strengthening these processes in the lead up to COP29 and COP30. So we're very happy to have all of this on the agenda. Obviously, national implementation is the big focus of the COP, so we want countries to come forwards with ambitious national strategies and action plans, as well as the funding needed to strengthen and drive them forward,” said Georgina Chandler, Head of Policy at the Zoological Society of London.
During this visit, the Secretary of State for the Environment of the United Kingdom, Steve Reed, confirmed his participation in COP16 in Cali, which will take place from October 21 to November 1.
In this way, Colombia strengthened alliances with strategic partners a little over a month before the official start of COP16, from October 21 to November 1, where, according to Minister Muhamad, success will depend on the progress made in implementing the global biodiversity agreement.