Brief abstract:

The Convention on Biological Diversity is the world’s principal multilateral agreement to protect nature and the benefits it provides for people. It provided the forum for the development and adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework which sets out the world’s plan to address the biodiversity crisis. In this talk, David Cooper will examine the outcomes of the recent sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties of the Convention, held in Cali in October 2024 (and due to be completed in Rome in February 2025), and prospects for achieving the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. He will also look back at how the Convention has evolved since its adoption in 1992, explore the opportunities and challenges for the future of biodiversity governance, and consider how multilateralism, science and popular initiatives can support effective policy and action.

Short Bio:
David Cooper is the former Acting Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. He played a pivotal role in the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework at COP-15, and was instrumental in establishing its support mechanisms, including the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund and the innovative Cali Fund, which aim to generate substantial financial resources from public and private sources for biodiversity conservation and capacity building. David has always championed the importance of science and traditional knowledge to inform biodiversity policy. He has contributed to shaping major assessments such as the 2019 IPBES Global Assessment as well as the Convention’s Global Biodiversity Outlook. After 30 years working with the United Nations, David is returning to Oxford to work with colleagues here and globally to continue to explore ways to address the biodiversity crisis.