Opening remarks by Commissioner Roswall at the press point on COP16 on biodiversity (part 2) in Rome

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Declining biodiversity is a global problem. Ecosystems are degrading everywhere. It worsens the impact of climate change. It magnifies the effects of droughts and floods. This in turn destroys people’s livelihoods, especially the most vulnerable in society. Already today 40% of the global population is negatively affected by land degradation. That is why global cooperation on biodiversity is so important.

With the Global Biodiversity Framework, we have a landmark agreement to guide global action, with a clear timeline, with clear targets, to stop the loss of biodiversity, to stop the extinction of species, to better protect land, sea and rivers. 196 countries around the world are on board to reverse the dangerous decline of nature impacting the lives of billions of people.

The global community is already making progress and delivering concrete results. 124 countries have by now aligned their national targets to the Global Biodiversity Framework, and the numbers are increasing. Also, the discussions in Colombia led to positive outcomes. We agreed to put indigenous people and local communities – as some of the most important custodians of biodiversity – front and centre. We established a global network to improve scientific and technical cooperation to halt biodiversity loss. The new Cali Fund launched today will share financial benefits with local and indigenous communities when using genetic materials sourced from natural ecosystems.

But no agreement was reached on other issues at the last COP in Cali. As you are aware, at the COP15 back in 2022 we agreed to mobilise USD 200 billion per year by 2030 for biodiversity from all sources, including USD 30 billion through international finance. The EU is the biggest international donor. Europe has even pledged to double its share of biodiversity funding. We will live up to our commitments. Nobody calls this into question.

What is at stake now is how the financial landscape should look like after 2030. The contentious point about resource mobilisation is not about the amount of money. It is about choosing the most efficient way to disburse the money, and how as many sources and donors as possible can be invited to contribute. If the political will is there, I believe we should be able to bridge the divide. We are facing a tough international context, so the stakes are high.

It is important that the COP discussions today are resumed to find an agreement on an open process that can lead to an appropriate, coherent and effective financial architecture beyond 2030. We need to maintain momentum to implement the Global Biodiversity Framework. It matters more than ever in the current geopolitical climate. The EU will work hard to find solutions and continue implementing this historic agreement until 2030 and beyond.

Thank you.