Global Agreement Reached on Biodiversity Funding
In a significant breakthrough for global environmental efforts, negotiators at the COP16 biodiversity talks in Rome have reached a consensus on a funding strategy to protect nature. The agreement, finalised on 27 February 2025, marks a crucial step towards implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) adopted in 2022.
Key Outcomes of the Rome Negotiations
Financial Commitments and Targets
The talks reaffirmed the commitment to mobilise $200 billion annually for biodiversity by 2030, including $30 billion from developed nations to support conservation efforts in biodiversity-rich developing countries. Additionally, there are plans to reform $500 billion in annual subsidies, redirecting them from harmful activities to nature-positive initiatives.
The Cali Fund: A Novel Approach
The newly established Cali Fund represents an innovative solution to benefit-sharing. It allows companies utilising digital sequence information on genetic resources to contribute financially, with half of the funds allocated to Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
Global Reactions and Next Steps
Environmental leaders and policymakers have welcomed the outcome as a positive sign for multilateral cooperation. Jill Hepp from Conservation International emphasised the urgency of swift action, stating, “No matter where you live or work, our food, water, livelihoods and economies all depend on a thriving natural world.”
Jessika Roswall, EU Commissioner for the Environment, hailed the agreement as proof that “multilateralism works, despite a difficult international geopolitical context.”
As the 2030 deadline for the GBF approaches, countries are now expected to finalise and implement their national biodiversity plans, using the agreed monitoring framework to track progress.
The Rome agreement has set the stage for ambitious action to protect global biodiversity. With the funding strategy in place, the focus now shifts to swift implementation and the urgent allocation of resources to safeguard the world’s most critical ecosystems.