Biodiversity Summit 2024: COP 16 – Cali Colombia

The United Nations Conference on Biodiversity (known as COP16) will be held from 21 October to 1 November 2024 in the Colombian city of Cali. The image used to represent the event shows the Inírida flower, a species endemic to Colombia, under the slogan: "Peace with Nature". It is a call for reflection to reconcile with the environment and to rethink an economic model that does not prioritise the extraction, overexploitation and pollution of nature. 

The COP or Conference of the Parties is the most important forum for discussion and negotiation of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). During COP16, countries will address issues related to conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic resources. The aim is to find solutions to critical problems facing the planet. 

COP16 will be the first since the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework at COP 15 in December 2022. This framework functions as a roadmap for the 196 countries party to the Convention to take action at the national level to meet its 4 goals and 23 targets to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, among which the UN highlights:

• Conserve at least 30% of the world's land, marine and coastal areas.
• Restore at least 20% of each of the degraded freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems, with special attention to priority ecosystems.
• Reduce the rates of introduction of other known or potential invasive species by at least 50 per cent
• Reduce nutrients lost to the environment by at least half, and chemicals, especially pesticides, which are harmful to biodiversity, by at least two thirds. 
• Eliminate the dumping of plastic waste.
• Minimise the impact of climate change on biodiversity, contribute to mitigation, adaptation and resilience through Nature-Based Solutions and ecosystem-based approaches. 
• Mobilise a $200 billion increase in international financial flows from all sources to developing countries.

Before COP16, participating countries are expected to submit updates of their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), which aim to carry out national planning and define an implementation roadmap with specific targets and plans. Countries such as Spain, China, Japan, Luxembourg, France and Hungary have already submitted their updates to the CBD.
 

 INFOGRAPHY: Cheat sheet to the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework [PDF]

Iberdrola with biodiversity

At Iberdrola we are committed to protecting nature and to this end we launched our Biodiversity Plan 2030 [PDF] with which we intend to achieve the ambitious goal of having a net positive impact on biodiversity by 2030 and to drive the transformation towards an energy model in harmony with nature and human beings.

This Plan builds on years of work to integrate biodiversity into strategic planning and decision-making, and addresses the life-cycle impacts of the Group's activities on ecosystems and species. The Plan will cover 100% of our installations in 2030, which will be assessed and have a revised action plan, in line with the new accounting framework. In addition, the target will be covered by 2025 for new developments and 20% of installations in operation. 

The three lines of action of our Biodiversity Plan are the following:

• Measure: We improve our measurement standards
  At Iberdrola, we have been incorporating best practices for years to measure and better understand our impacts on biodiversity. With this Plan, we have established a new accounting framework -built on methodologies and protocols of international organisations- that allows us to quantify and consolidate at facility, business and group level the positive and negative impacts on ecosystems and species derived from the construction, operation and dismantling of its facilities.  In addition, we continue to improve the measurement and implementation of tools for measuring impacts and dependencies on nature in our activities and in the value chain.
• Act: Reinforcing our actions
  By 2025, 100% of new developments and 20% of facilities will be assessed and have revised action plans to achieve net biodiversity impact applying the principles of the conservation hierarchy: Avoid, Reduce, Restore and Regenerate.  
  • Avoid locating new infrastructure projects in protected areas, improving prior studies of the environment and identifying possible effects of our activities in order to promote solutions.
  • Reduce the impact on species, promote the creation of ecological corridors and maintain the ecological flow downstream of reservoirs. Also reduce water and soil pollution by continuing prevention programmes as well as identifying and managing invasive species that pose a risk.
  • Restore and offset residual impacts on habitats and endangered species as well as activities that cause deforestation. Regenerate through environmental improvement plans, such as Iberdrola's Tree Programme – implementing nature-based solutions.
• Transform: Driving action for biodiversity
  Iberdrola is committed to assuming a leadership position in action for biodiversity. This is why we believe that systemic change and new business models that integrate biodiversity into decision-making while creating social value are necessary. We want to strengthen and encourage projects that promote social awareness, also in our value chain, promoting research and innovation to find solutions.

This Biodiversity Plan was presented at the World Biodiversity Summit held in Montreal, COP15, which we attended as a global benchmark in the fight against climate change and under the umbrella of “Business for Nature” – the global coalition that brings together influential organisations and companies working to reverse the loss of nature and restore the planet's essential ecosystems. Once again Iberdrola will be at COP16 supporting the reversal of biodiversity loss by 2030.