COP16 Biodiversity in Rome

The COP16 bis on biodiversity, held in Rome from February 25 to 27, 2025, at the FAO headquarters, represented a pivotal moment for the future of global ecosystems. After the suspension of negotiations in Cali, Colombia, in November 2024, the international community gathered in the Italian capital with the aim of overcoming divisions and defining concrete strategies for biodiversity conservation.

One of the most significant aspects of this conference was the financial commitment. Delegates worked intensively to define a strategy for mobilizing resources, aiming to secure $200 billion per year by 2030 for biodiversity initiatives. At the same time, the goal was set to reduce harmful incentives, such as subsidies for polluting agricultural practices and inefficient infrastructure, by at least $500 billion per year by the same date. However, despite efforts, some countries did not meet previously made financial commitments, creating tensions between nations.

The central goal of the conference was to increase global efforts to protect and restore ecosystems. In particular, COP16 bis reaffirmed the importance of the so-called “30×30”: the commitment to safeguard 30% of marine and coastal areas and to restore 30% of degraded lands by 2030. This objective is seen as a crucial step to halt biodiversity loss and ensure the health of marine and terrestrial ecosystems, which are essential for human well-being. The protection of marine and coastal areas, in particular, was recognized as a global priority, considering the importance of these environments for climate regulation and the conservation of many vulnerable marine species.

Despite the absence of the leaders of the most important countries international participation was significant, with the presence of numerous environment ministers and government representatives from around the world. However, the differences between the Global North and Global South clearly emerged during the negotiations, highlighting the challenges in reaching a global consensus on financial matters and shared responsibilities.

Despite the difficulties, important progress was made. A new global financial instrument was established, separate from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), with the goal of managing and distributing resources for biodiversity more equitably. This mechanism aims to involve contributions from bilateral, private, and philanthropic sources, in addition to existing funds such as the Kunming Biodiversity Fund (KBF).

The main challenges that emerged during the conference were related to ensuring adequate and predictable financing, which is essential for implementing transformative changes in biodiversity conservation. The divisions between nations made it difficult to reach a consensus on some key issues, underscoring the need for stronger and more coordinated global efforts.

In conclusion, COP16 bis in Rome represented a significant step toward safeguarding global biodiversity. Despite the challenges and difficulties, important progress was made, and the conference emphasized the urgency of collective action and concrete financial commitments to ensure a sustainable future for our planet. Achieving the 30×30 goal will be critical to reversing biodiversity decline, and its realization will require immediate and long-term action from all involved countries.