CBD COP16 Brief: Advances in Governance of the Climate, Environment, Health Nexus

The brief details key decisions from CBD COP16, including the Global Action Plan on Biodiversity and Health, the establishment of the Cali Fund for benefit-sharing from genetic resources, and the creation of a permanent forum for Indigenous Peoples and local communities (SB 8j). It highlights new frameworks for integrating biodiversity into climate action, marine area protection, and the recognition of diverse knowledge systems and the rights of people of African descent.

• COP16 adopted Decision 16/22 on Biodiversity and Climate Change, which aims to improve integrated governance by fostering collaboration between CBD and UNFCCC focal points and promoting synergies for the carbon cycle and adaptation. It encourages the use of nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based approaches for climate action and disaster risk reduction.
• The Global Action Plan on Biodiversity and Health (Decision 16/19) was adopted to improve the stewardship of the human relationship with nature. The plan includes nearly 100 actions for integration into national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs) and seeks to coordinate public health and environmental management across government sectors.
• Decision 16/16 on Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas establishes technical and scientific modalities for identifying and protecting critical marine areas both within and beyond national jurisdiction, intended to inform the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea's BBNJ discussions.
• COP16 advanced the inclusion of diverse knowledge and social perspectives through Decision 16/14 on Diverse Values and Valuation of Nature and Decision 16/6 on the Role of People of African Descent. Additionally, Decision 16/5 established the Subsidiary Body on Article 8j (SB 8j) as a permanent CBD forum for Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
• A new financial mechanism called the Cali Fund was agreed upon, requiring large companies benefiting commercially from digital sequence information of genetic resources to contribute 1% of their profits toward CBD implementation.

APA

Willetts, L. (2025). CBD COP16 Brief: Advances in Governance of the Climate, Environment, Health Nexus. Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. https://iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/IAI_CDB_COP16_PolicyBrief.pdf

Chicago

Willetts, Liz. CBD COP16 Brief: Advances in Governance of the Climate, Environment, Health Nexus. Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, 2025. https://iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/IAI_CDB_COP16_PolicyBrief.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Willetts |first1=Liz |title=CBD COP16 Brief: Advances in Governance of the Climate, Environment, Health Nexus |publisher=Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |date=February 2025 |url=https://iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/IAI_CDB_COP16_PolicyBrief.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{willetts2025cbd, author = {Willetts, Liz}, title = {{CBD COP16 Brief: Advances in Governance of the Climate, Environment, Health Nexus}}, institution = {Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}, year = {2025}, month = feb, url = {https://iai.int/administrador/assets/images/ckfinder/files/IAI_CDB_COP16_PolicyBrief.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }