Leaders from the Pacific Islands are preparing to push for increased funding and support for biodiversity conservation during the upcoming global negotiations at the Sixteenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16) in Rome from February 25-27. This event marks a continuation of discussions that were previously halted in November 2024 in Cali, Colombia, and will feature Heads of State, government officials, and representatives from various sectors, including youth and civil society.
Renowned for their role as stewards of the largest ocean expanse and a wealth of biodiversity, Pacific Island leaders are vocal advocates in the fight against the alarming decline in biodiversity. Recognizing that preserving biodiversity is crucial for environmental health, cultural identity, and economic stability, these leaders declared a regional climate emergency in 2022. This declaration highlights the urgent need for coordinated efforts to tackle climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
Halatoa Fua, the Director of the Cook Islands National Environment Service, articulated the essential connection between biodiversity and the livelihoods of communities within the Pacific. He called for strong commitments during the COP negotiations to mobilize necessary resources, warning that without increased funding, the region’s ecological foundation—Ipukarea—will remain at risk.
A critical topic for discussion at this year’s conference is the development of a new Resource Mobilisation Strategy, which aims to gather $200 billion per year by 2030 for biodiversity projects while attempting to eliminate harmful incentives worth approximately $500 billion by 2023. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework commits nations to not just halt but reverse biodiversity loss, a challenging goal hindered by insufficient financial backing.
The coordinated efforts of Pacific leaders are pivotal in amplifying the demand for financial resources aimed at biodiversity initiatives. A potential focus includes the establishment of a global financing instrument for biodiversity, in response to the predominantly bilateral and private-sector funding sources such as the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
Easter Chu Shing, the Deputy Director General of the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP), emphasized the necessity for a united Pacific response to tackle the specific biodiversity management challenges faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS). This emerging leadership illustrates the importance of solidarity as the region advocates for ambitious biodiversity targets and enhanced funding solutions during the Rome discussions.
With fourteen Pacific Island countries participating in the CBD, representatives from nine will contribute to the discourse. The results from this COP meeting will significantly influence future biodiversity actions in the Pacific, fostering a sustainable and resilient future.
With hope and determination, Pacific leaders are ready to make a substantial impact on the broader international conversations surrounding biodiversity, highlighting the immediate need for dedicated resources to strengthen ecological resilience in their communities. As the world looks toward Rome, there is optimism that meaningful progress can be achieved in combating biodiversity loss, paving the way for a more secure future for the Pacific Islands and beyond.
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