Business Sweden leads delegation to COP16 in Colombia
Fri, 25 October 2024 08:00 CET
Between 25 October and 1 November, Business Sweden is coordinating Team Sweden’s inaugural participation at COP16 in Cali, Colombia. This year’s conference is the first since the signing of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) in Montreal in 2022 and is regarded as the inaugural “implementation COP”.
Governments and non-state actors – including businesses, financial institutions, cities, and civil society – will convene to assess progress and plan future actions to reverse nature loss by 2030.
Sweden will participate with an official negotiation delegation and a robust program during the two-week event, which coincides with the celebration of 150 years of diplomatic relations between Sweden and Colombia. In conjunction with COP16, a visual representation of the four state goals for 2050 will be unveiled, highlighting 23 action targets that detail how the framework’s objectives will be achieved, with a review set for 2030.
The primary aim of Sweden’s presence is to offer a platform for companies and stakeholders to showcase their efforts and commitment to the global goals. Engaging in discussion forums, making new connections, and attending business-focused events are key components of the Swedish delegation’s agenda.
The presence on the ground also provides valuable insights into the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), which shape policies and regulations at both regional and national levels, directly impacting business operations.
“COP16 not only puts Colombia, the country with the second-highest biodiversity in the world, on the map, but it also marks the first time Business Sweden is participating in this significant conference,” says Erik Alarik, Country Director of Business Sweden Colombia. “With 10 Swedish companies and key stakeholders involved in a range of activities focused on implementing the framework, it’s a major milestone for us.”
“It is an honour to be at COP16 and present the new biodiversity communication,” says Jakob Trollbäck, founder of The New Division by Trollbäck + Company. “I hope we can make this new framework for these critical issues as accessible and well-understood as our previous framework for the UN's Global Goals.”
“The primary driver of biodiversity loss is human use of land and sea,” explains Christina Niemelä Ström, Sustainability Manager at IKEA Supply. “While the causes are clear, the solutions are complex and require collaboration among many stakeholders. That’s why CBD COP16 is so important. It’s a unique opportunity for us to show our support for the global biodiversity framework and engage with others to strengthen our action plans for protecting and restoring biodiversity.”
Team Sweden Delegation to COP16
ECOGAIN
THE NEW DIVISION BY TROLLBÄCK+COMPANY
SAAB
THE FOREST INDUSTRIES
SWEDISH BUSINESS COMMUNITY
A GLOBAL COMPACT
VOLVO CARS
For more information about the on-site program, visit https://www.nordicscop16.com/
For further information, please contact the Business Sweden press office at press@business-sweden.se
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