Cali, Colombia, October 23, 2024 – Parliamentarians from Brazil, United Kingdom, Argentina, Ecuador, Peru, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Bolivia, Kenya and Colombia joined the Cali Declaration at COP16, an initiative that seeks to strengthen their role in the creation of effective policies for the conservation of global biodiversity.
“Hopefully this space in which we trust and believe, has a great possibility of amplification and is a fundamental ally in the invitation that the Government of Colombia has made to the world, by hosting the COP16. It is important that we reform this system to generate Peace with Nature as a fundamental measure that guarantees the security and stability of the world's population”, said the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Susana Muhamad.
During this space, legislators addressed the challenges facing the protection of global biodiversity and the urgent need to move towards sustainable economies that allow making Peace with Nature.
The declaration seeks to reaffirm the legislators' commitment to the effective implementation of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, inviting governments to strengthen their legislative frameworks, increase funding for conservation, ensure continuous monitoring of environmental policies, among others.

The Cali Declaration was launched as a result of the Forum 'Parliamentarians for Economic Transitions for the Care, Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity', held in the Blue Zone of COP16.
Parliamentarians from different political sides unite for biodiversity
This manifesto is also a sign of articulation and joint work between different political currents that converge on the importance of taking urgent actions to conserve the planet and make Peace with Nature.
“In this space and in this great parliamentary declaration, the proposals from the indigenous peoples can be collected and we will be here to continue contributing to life, not only of the indigenous peoples of Colombia but to humanity. We will be here as indigenous women with our words and actions, but also with our peoples that represent different expressions of the country and that I have the great honor of representing”, affirmed the senator of the Indigenous and Social Alternative Movement of Colombia, Aida Quilcué.
In the same vein, Uma Kumaran, British parliamentarian, said that “if we do not protect our planet, if we do not act now, we will not have a planet for future generations. That is why it is so important that countries around the world, parliamentarians from countries around the world are here today to sit around the table and talk to each other. Because there is nothing like being together in person to discuss the ideas that we have and to be honest about the magnitude of the challenge ahead of us.”
This declaration seeks to reaffirm the legislators' commitment to the effective implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework, inviting governments to strengthen their legislative frameworks.
At the end of the event, which concluded with the signing of the 18-point declaration, the Colombian Foreign Minister, Luis Gilberto Murillo, emphasized that “a declaration was produced that involves the issues that Colombia has been raising in the biodiversity protection agenda. They committed to adhere to the declaration of Peace with Nature, which is being promoted by the Colombian government and this is a very important step forward”.
The event was organized by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development and the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), in coordination with the International Conservation Caucus Foundation Group (ICCF) and with the support of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). This collaboration created a space for legislators to discuss the urgent challenges facing the world's biodiversity.