Colombia is set to host the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Cali, marking a historic milestone with the largest Green Zone ever established at a biodiversity COP. This expansive area will include a comprehensive Action and Participation Program designed to engage a wide range of stakeholders and foster a democratic approach to biodiversity conservation. COP16 will run from October 21 to November 1 in the departmental capital of Valle del Cauca.
The Green Zone, covering over 350,000 square meters, will accommodate more than 5,400 attendees daily and host 1,152 academic events, and numerous citizen participation routes outlined as Ruta del Oriente; Ruta Ladera; Ruta de los Farallones. The events will be distributed across 16 venues and connected with universities, showcasing the conference’s inclusive and interdisciplinary approach.
“This is the first time a Biodiversity COP will offer such an open, plural, and democratic platform,” said Susana Muhamad, Colombia’s Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development. “We are providing a space where global actors can promote biodiversity protection and influence negotiations on a scale never seen before.”
The program is grounded in the Kunming-Montreal Framework, which outlines 12 key thematic axes to align the negotiation agenda with proposals from diverse sectors. Each thematic block will follow a detailed roadmap comprising pre-events, key events in the Green Zone, and significant activities in the Blue Zone.
Muhamad emphasized that the framework aims to ensure that the voices of the private sector and local communities are integrated into the decision-making process. Over 70 pre-events will reach out to territories to gather input from private sector representatives, government officials, local authorities, indigenous peoples, Afro communities, farmers, social organizations, NGOs, and international actors.
The academic pre-summit activities will be led by eight universities from the department of Valle del Cauca, alongside research centers and think tanks spearheaded by the Humboldt Institute. “We aim to create a dynamic exchange of knowledge and ideas,” said Alejandro Éder, Mayor of Cali. “Visitors, students, entrepreneurs, and citizens will have opportunities to engage in biodiversity circuits, academic discussions, and cultural events.”
The program also features a Multicolored Segment to foster participation from local and regional communities, extending from city communes to neighboring towns. This inclusive approach highlights the event’s commitment to diverse representation. The official agenda includes over 130 events per-day, and 280 cultural activities, including a Mega Concert for Peace – Megaconcierto Paz COP – on October 26 at the Pascual Guerrero stadium, featuring 10 national and international recording artists.
“I have called for active participation from Pacific territories, women, and youth at COP16,” said Vice President Francia Márquez. “We are pushing for the inclusion of the Afro-descendant Peoples Category in the Biological Diversity Convention, marking a significant milestone for this COP.”
Juan David Correa, Colombia’s Minister of Cultures, noted the event’s varied artistic programming, set to take place across all COP16 venues, including the Blue Zone, Green Zone, and the Agua Blanca District. “We have organized a ‘COP with the People’ alongside neighborhoods and popular organizations,” Correa said. “This will feature local entertainment venues, fairs and food markets for the promotion of popular economies, and artistic representations.”
The Governor of Valle del Cauca, Dilian Francisca Toro, highlighted the forthcoming Inírida Declaration. “We aim to take affirmative action to ensure women’s participation and visibility in biodiversity and nature conservation,” Toro stated. “Women must equally partake in decisions that impact life and diversity.”
Official Negotiation Agenda and Global Leadership
The Blue Zone will host the official COP16 negotiation agenda, which has been in development for two years. “The results and decisions from this agenda will be made in Cali,” confirmed Minister Muhamad. Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) lauded Colombia’s preparations, describing them as “truly impressive and greatly appreciated.”
“The agenda covers a broad range of topics guiding the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework,” Schomaker added. “Colombia’s efforts are crucial in steering global biodiversity policies.”
Colombia’s Foreign Minister, Luis Gilberto Murillo, emphasized the event’s significance in consolidating Colombia’s international environmental leadership. “This COP16 is a pivotal opportunity for Colombia to solidify its role as a leader among the Global South,” Murillo stated. “We will launch the Global Coalition for Peace with Nature – Paz con Naturaleza – on October 29.”
Murillo emphasized the importance of COP16 for promoting Colombia’s vision of diplomacy for life, peace, and reconciliation with nature. “This is an ideal scenario for uniting the country and connecting Colombia with the world,” he said.
