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Credit: Kandukuru Nagarjun/Flickr
Global South demands fairness in genetic data sharing amid growing biopiracy concerns
In a world where digital genetic information is becoming a billion-dollar business, countries rich in biodiversity are demanding their fair share of the profits.
In short:
- Multinationals are extracting genetic information from diverse organisms, often without compensating the countries where these organisms are found.
- A global agreement on sharing the benefits from digital genetic codes, called digital sequencing information (DSI), is under negotiation, with tensions running high.
- Countries in the Global South argue that they are being exploited while richer nations profit from their biodiversity without sharing the wealth.
Key quote:
“There will be a Cop decision and then after that, it’ll be up to everyone to play nicely and turn it into a resource mobilisation engine for looking after biodiversity.”
— Pierre du Plessis, Namibian negotiator at Cop15
Why this matters:
With the biodiversity summit in Colombia looming, there's hope that a groundbreaking agreement might finally address this tug-of-war over genetic resources. Countries rich in biodiversity, often in the Global South, argue that they should see a slice of the profits, not just for fairness but to fund conservation efforts crucial for preserving these ecosystems. Read more: The economics of biodiversity.
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Focusing only on cutting emissions risks worsening climate crisis, warns Cop16 president
Susana Muhamad, Colombia's environment minister, cautions that neglecting nature restoration in favor of solely reducing carbon emissions could lead to catastrophic global heating and societal collapse.
In short:
- Muhamad emphasized that both decarbonization and ecosystem restoration are essential to stabilize the climate.
- The Cop16 summit will aim to elevate the political importance of biodiversity alongside the climate agenda.
- Muhamad urged wealthier nations to fulfill funding promises for nature restoration.
Key quote:
"The other side of the coin is to restore nature and allow nature to take again its power over planet Earth so that we can really stabilize the climate."
— Susana Muhamad, Cop16 president
Why this matters:
Overlooking ecosystem restoration while combating climate change could trigger further environmental degradation, making global heating and its impacts even harder to manage.
Related: Climate change: For big emissions reductions, we need to think small
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Credit: Ulises Casaraz from Pixabay
Colombia commits to prioritizing nature in upcoming global environmental talks
As Colombia gears up to host the Cop16 summit, Environment Minister Susana Muhamad emphasizes nature's crucial role in addressing the climate crisis.
In short:
- Colombia, preparing for the Cop16 biodiversity summit, aims to integrate nature conservation into the global environmental agenda.
- The summit in Cali will see nations presenting plans to meet biodiversity targets, including protecting and restoring 30% of land and sea.
- Colombia's leadership, including President Gustavo Petro, is advocating for stronger support and funding for biodiversity-rich countries.
Key quote:
"Although the climate is affecting biodiversity, nature is an answer to the climate crisis. It is not the only answer but it is a very important pillar."
— Susana Muhamad, Colombia’s Environment Minister
Why this matters:
Colombia's focus on nature at the Cop16 summit emphasizes the link between biodiversity and climate health, an important consideration for global environmental policies and actions. This approach could shape future strategies in the fight against climate change, impacting health outcomes worldwide.
A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by researchers with the InterAmerican Development Bank and Stanford University pointed to stronger Indigenous rights as a way to not just strengthen communities, but also solve thorny issues around emissions and deforestation.
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