COP16 in Rome agrees way forward on biodiversity
Anna Ducros, a nature finance researcher at IIED, reacts to the adoption of various agreements on biodiversity at the second COP16 summit in Rome.
The resumed meeting of the parties to the COP16 global biodiversity conference was held between 25 and 27 February 2025 in Rome, Italy to address agenda items left unresolved. Various agreements on biodiversity were adopted at the end of the three days.
Anna Ducros, researcher in inclusive blue and green economy at IIED, said: "The agreed texts aren’t perfect, but they are a step forward on clarifying how biodiversity finance will be improved. They also leave open the possibility of Indigenous Peoples and local communities having direct access, though the next steps are vague and lack clear ambition.
"To save and restore nature it’s really important to get money to people on the front lines of the biodiversity crisis. Taxpayers rightly will want to know that public funds are being spent wisely and not siphoned off by bureaucracy.
"Countries have also asked finance and environment ministers around the world to work together on the problem of huge debt burdens in lower-income nations. Debt repayments are a massive resource sink that prevent governments investing in nature – or even in basic services like healthcare.
"When the initial COP16 meetings failed to get this agreement over the line there was real concern for the future of the process. The second round of talks went right down to the wire and there were some quite heated disagreements, but the political will to find common ground was definitely there.
"It remains to be seen whether that will translate into tangible action. Governments’ past failure to follow through on their promises to protect nature have led to quite a lot of public scepticism."
She added: "It’s been a long few days. At best, the negotiations were constructive and countries showed a spirit of compromise. At worst, however, the urgent need for a decision saw Indigenous Peoples and civil society groups, notably the caucus for women and young people, sidelined. They were only offered a chance to speak once everything had been decided."
Contact
For more information or to request an interview, contact press officer Jon Sharman: +44 20 3463 7399 or [email protected]
Notes to editors
- IIED recently published an issue paper on how debt-for-climate-and-nature swaps can be used to meet goals on biodiversity restoration and climate change
- Past research suggests debt swaps could release $100bn of funding for these purposes
For more information or to request an interview, contact Jon Sharman:
+44 7407 727 886, or [email protected]
