February 27, 2025
ROME (Feb. 27, 2025) – Today, Conservation International’s biodiversity policy lead, Jill Hepp, issued the following statement as parties adjourned from the second convening of the 16th United Nations Biodiversity Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity – known as COP16.2 – in Rome. Negotiators leave the conference having reached an important agreement shaping the future of global biodiversity funding.
Hepp said:
“No matter where you live, what job you have, or the economy you rely on, nature is the foundation of it all. From the food on our tables to the supply chains that power global business, every aspect of our lives depends on the natural world. Today, in Rome, countries broke through a longstanding policy deadlock and agreed to a timebound plan that will result in the selection of a permanent financial mechanism designed to help ensure funding reaches the most biodiverse places on earth. Their compromise paves the way for tangible action on 30x30 and many other critical targets.
“While this is a moment to celebrate, we also need to see action and innovation immediately following these decisions. The world must act on their previous commitments to provide $200 billion per year for biodiversity from the public and private sector. In addition, we must collectively reform $500 billion of annual subsidies directing those incentives away from activities that harm nature and instead investing them in sustainable agriculture, nature-positive supply chains and job creation.
“Now that there is a path forward on how funding will flow, we all must take ambitious action to accomplish our collective goals. It’s more important than ever for countries to finalize and start to implement their national biodiversity plans, and use the monitoring framework to track progress towards 2030.
“This agreement is a promising sign for multilateral cooperation, but we must not take our eyes off the ball. No matter where you live or work, our food, water, livelihoods and economies all depend on a thriving natural world and the Global Biodiversity Framework deadline of 2030 is fast approaching. Swift action remains essential if we hope to meet global biodiversity goals. With this decision in the rearview, countries can now focus on ambitious implementation and urgently moving funds to protect lands and seas that sustain all of us.”
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About Conservation International: Conservation International protects nature for the benefit of humanity. Through science, policy, fieldwork and finance, we spotlight and secure the most important places in nature for the climate, for biodiversity and for people. With offices in 30 countries and projects in more than 100 countries, Conservation International partners with governments, companies, civil society, Indigenous peoples and local communities to help people and nature thrive together. Visit Conservation.org for more, and follow us on Conservation News, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.