Colombia’s Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development has announced that it will host a series of in-person and virtual forums in the lead-up to COP16 in Cali this October 21st, which will be the first time the city has hosted the prestigious conference.
The 14 forums will take place from August 14 to November 2, and will include experts, academics, officials and community leaders discussing topics such as biodiversity, culture and society, agriculture, innovation and more.
The forums, which can be registered for here, will serve as a lead-up to the in-person conference in October in Cali.
The Biodiversity Connection Forums, aimed at individuals of all ages, were designed to inspire, educate and mobilize how individuals can develop a deeper commitment to nature.
Participation, which can take place in six in-person sessions and eight virtual sessions, is free.
Earlier this year it was announced that Cali, one of the largest cities in Colombia, would host this year’s United Nations COP16 Convention on Biological Diversity.
The conference, which will take place from October 21st through November 1st, is one of the most important annual gatherings in the world. The event also serves as a formal meeting of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change parties, otherwise known as the Conference of the Parties (COP).
It will be the first time Cali will host a COP event, with the nation of Colombia being one of the top five most biodiverse countries on the planet.
Colombia’s Pacific region has more than 11 national parks that make up 51,388 square kilometers of biodiversity, according to a statement from the Ministry. Additionally, the region is also home to some of Colombia’s most diverse cultures.
Said Susana Muhamad, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, “We want this to be the COP of the people, of those who live and prosper in biodiversity, where peace with nature is promulgated, and it is one of the pillars of the climate crisis.”
“Taking this event to Cali will have the greatest transformative effect, to show the world biodiversity and bring an event to the four departments of the Pacific,” added the minister.
To learn more about the forums leading up to COP16, visit here.
