The sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 16) occurred in Cali, Colombia, from 21 October to 1 November 2024. As the first Biodiversity COP since the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) in 2022, COP 16 underscored key commitments to address urgent biodiversity and climate challenges, with further meetings planned to complete its ambitious agenda.

Before the conference’s suspension on 2 November, delegates made significant progress, including agreements on the expanded role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in conservation efforts. Furthermore, countries reached a landmark decision to operationalise a new global mechanism for fair benefit-sharing from digital genetic information—a critical step toward the KMGBF’s 2030 targets.

On 21 October at the Geo BON Pavilion, Dr Lina Estupinan-Suarez, a B-Cubed project partner, from the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, organised a live demonstration session on the Essential Biodiversity Variables Data Ecosystem, a set of tools designed to enhance data standardisation and support National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans reporting. During that session,
Dr Yanina V. Sica from Giessen University introduced a recently published B-Cubed policy brief, which was also distributed on-site. This brief sparked considerable interest in the project’s work, with potential collaborations in view, notably with Bon in a Box and the European Space Agency (ESA). This highlights the project’s role in reinforcing the COP agenda by empowering policymakers with streamlined biodiversity data solutions across regions.

Additionally, Yanina participated in the panel session Kunming-Montreal Framework: Invisible Challenges from the Global South. Her contribution highlighted the consequences for biodiversity conservation if global data ignores the local realities of the Global South. Different panellists discussed the need to promote efficient international collaboration and knowledge-sharing, strengthening the voice of Southern nations within the Convention on Biological Diversity. This focus is intended to drive greater international awareness and targeted support for the unique biodiversity challenges these nations face.