The year 2024 marked a significant moment for global environmental discussions, with the convening of three major conferences, with two having already occurred – COP 16 for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in October in Cali, Colombia; and COP29 for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in November in Baku, Azerbaijan – and a last one scheduled to take place December, also called COP16, but for the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
While these conferences focus on distinct environmental issues, they share a growing recognition of interconnected environmental challenges. For instance, climate change is one of the primary drivers of biodiversity loss, with rising global temperatures and extreme weather events disrupting ecosystems and threatening species survival, while healthy biodiversity and soils are essential for mitigating climate change and adapting to its effects. These relationships make it clear that solving one issue in isolation is no longer enough.
The close timing of COP16 and COP29 has initiated the dialogue that these environmental issues are linked. The interconnected-ness of dynamics have highlighted the need for stakeholders to build integrated solutions that address multiple environmental challenges simultaneously.
The private sector is especially getting more involved on biodiversity and climate, as this year’s COP16 for biodiversity saw the highest attendance in the history of CBD COPs. While attention to land degradation is still lagging, the goal of reaching land degradation neutrality is still reaffirmed. Furthermore, more stakeholders, especially financial market players, are beginning to recognize that preserving biodiversity and maintaining healthy soils are essential for both mitigating and adapting to climate change.
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