As the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) resumes later this month in Rome, Italy, global leaders face a pivotal test — the world watches closely, waiting to see if governments can deliver on their financial and policy promises to save the planet’s dwindling biodiversity.
From February 25 to 27, 2025, representatives from across the world will gather at the headquarters of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations to continue discussions on biodiversity goals. The meeting follows COP16 in Cali, Colombia, which was cut short due to a lack of quorum, delaying key financial decisions, including the establishment of a new global biodiversity fund and the target of mobilising $20 billion annually by 2025.
The Rome session will focus on securing financial resources and developing a robust system to track biodiversity commitments.
A major highlight of the meeting will be the official launch of the Cali Fund on February 25. This fund aims to ensure the fair distribution of financial benefits derived from the use of digital sequence information (DSI) — genetic data from plants, animals, and other organisms. Led by the private sector, the fund will support Indigenous communities and biodiversity conservation efforts.
At COP16, negotiations on DSI stalled due to India’s concerns over national rights to control its biodiversity. Following extensive discussions, India’s demands were incorporated into the agreement, including the critical phrase “without prejudice to national legislation” in the final document.
The upcoming Rome session is expected to build on these discussions and finalise the implementation details.
Delegates will also work towards finalising key decisions under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to halt biodiversity loss and restore ecosystems by 2030.
One of the most pressing challenges is funding biodiversity efforts. Countries will seek agreement on a strategy to raise $200 billion annually for biodiversity conservation by 2030. This includes a commitment to increase Official Development Assistance for biodiversity to at least $20 billion per year by 2025, rising to $30 billion by 2030.
Delegates will also discuss creating a dedicated global biodiversity fund.
Another crucial issue is establishing a system to measure progress. The proposed Monitoring Framework will define clear indicators to track the 23 global biodiversity targets, covering areas such as habitat protection, pollution control, and sustainable resource use. Governments will finalise reporting mechanisms ahead of a major global review at COP17 in 2026.
Additionally, the meeting will refine the Planning, Monitoring, Reporting, and Review Mechanism, outlining how various stakeholders — including Indigenous Peoples, women, youth, civil society, and businesses — can contribute to biodiversity monitoring efforts.
Delegates will assess existing biodiversity funds, including the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, which has received nearly $400 million in pledges. They will also discuss the newly launched Kunming Biodiversity Fund, backed by China with a $200 million contribution. Moreover, guidance will be provided to the Global Environment Facility as it prepares for its next funding round.
A significant breakthrough at COP16 was the formal recognition of Afro-descendant communities under Article 8(j), alongside Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. This recognition grants Afro-descendant communities a stronger role in biodiversity decision-making. Furthermore, a special group on Article 8(j) was created to make sure that IPLCs have more involvement in making these important decisions.
The outcomes of the Rome meeting will influence discussions at COP17 in Yerevan, Armenia, in 2026. With biodiversity facing mounting threats, expectations are high for governments to demonstrate meaningful progress in securing funding and enforcing biodiversity commitments. This session is a critical moment to align policies and resources with global biodiversity goals.