### COP16 on biodiversity: between promises and realities
On February 25, 2025, the city of Rome welcomed COP16 on biodiversity, an event which brings together 154 of the 196 signatories of the Convention and which appears crucial in the fight against the degradation of our environment. This summit, considered as a catch -up session, follows the meeting last October, where tensions between developed and developing countries had obstinately hampered the discussions on funding intended for the preservation of flora and fauna. This observation raises fundamental questions about the way in which nations, to sometimes divergent interests, can work together for a common objective: the safeguarding of biodiversity.
#### A persistent ditch: North South
The fracture line between the North and the South represents one of the major challenges that arises during this COP16. The biodiversity crisis is no exception to other geopolitical issues where economic interests often take precedence over environmental concerns. During this opening plenary, the Zimbabwean delegate spoke of his confidence, while recognizing the need for daring decisions to achieve the objective set by the Kunming-Montréal agreement: mobilize 200 billion dollars per year by 2030 for biodiversity. This figure, however titanic, seems derisory in the face of the need to act quickly and effectively to preserve our ecosystem.
Note that a recent study of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) stresses that an investment of 300 to 500 billion dollars per year is necessary just to slow down the loss of biodiversity worldwide. This figure does not even take into account the economic effects of the decline of biodiversity, which could cost the global economy up to 10 % of its GDP by 2050 if significant measures are not taken. Thus, the lack of funding constitutes not only an obstacle to conservation projects, but it is also a direct threat to global economic stability.
### Africa at the heart of discussions
The expectations of African countries form an essential component of the debate. These nations, often the most impacted by ecological crises, call for the creation of a fund dedicated to biodiversity, proposed to be fueled by contributions from developed countries. This fund would be crucial to allow the development of preservation projects within the most vulnerable regions, which are sorely lacking in resources to act.
However, the resistance of the European Union, because of its own budgetary difficulties, raises the question of international solidarity in a context of increasing climate change. Such a position could promote a breach in terms of collective responsibility, allowing developed countries to evade their obligations towards developing countries.
### A potential compromise: the solution through cooperation
Faced with this dead end, the president of the COP suggested a new approach that could embody a way to cooperation. By proposing a work process aimed at establishing a Sayer Fund for Biodiversity, it evokes a pragmatic approach and adapted to the needs of the territories concerned. This mode of governance could allow better transparency and more effective allocation of resources. International cooperation is also the basis of the success of many environmental projects worldwide.
### to a sustainable future: the challenges of inclusive governance
Discussions during COP16 should not be limited to figures or opposite opinions between nations. They must dwell on the need for inclusive governance, where the voices of indigenous peoples and local communities are also heard and integrated into decision -making processes. These communities are often the guardians of ancestral knowledge and sustainable practices, which come up against models of sometimes standardized development and harmful to the environment.
It is urgent that developed countries become aware of the importance of these votes, the report on biodiversity established by the Convention on Biological Diversity has stressed that the inclusion of traditional knowledge could promote better management of ecosystems, while strengthening Local communities in the face of the challenges posed by climate change.
### Conclusion: the urgency to act
The COP16 on biodiversity is much more than a simple diplomatic meeting: it embodies a real turning point in the fight for the safeguard of our planet. The expectations are immense, as is the responsibility of the nations. The choices that will be made here in Rome can have repercussions not only on future generations, but also on today’s economic and environmental balances.
Beyond the debates, it is imperative that promises are reflected in concrete actions. The issues related to biodiversity must be understood as global challenges, bringing together all the actors around a common objective. The health of our planet is at stake, and it is time to act in a collective and responsible way.