During the formal opening ceremony of COP16, Guterres urged the member states of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity to make “large investments” in the international fund for nature protection. He delivered this message via a pre-recorded video.

“We must leave Cali with significant investments in the global biodiversity framework fund and commitments to mobilize other sources of public and private financing,” Guterres stated, highlighting the need for the fund to operate “fully.” His remarks came just before the negotiations, which will continue until November 1.

“To enable humanity to thrive, nature must blossom.
The destruction of nature fuels conflicts, hunger, and diseases, exacerbating poverty, inequality, and the climate crisis.

The Global Biodiversity Framework promises to restore our relationship with the Earth.
The mission of #COP16Colombia is to turn words into action,” Guterres added in his post following the COP16 opening in Cali, Colombia.