Italy plays a key role at the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) of the Convention on Biodiversity, held in Cali, Colombia, from October 21 to November 1. A high-level delegation, led by Undersecretary for the Environment Barbaro, will attend the High-Level Segment on October 29 and 30. Representing Italy, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) is present through its Regional Office in Bogotá and in cooperation with the Italian Embassy in Bogotá, engaging in multiple COP events.
The conference, themed “In Peace with Nature,” provides a platform to reflect on sustainable socio-economic models that emphasize the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in a world facing limited resources and climate change. Hosted for the first time in Colombia, one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, COP16 brings together global delegations in the “Blue Zone” to discuss policies and actions for biodiversity protection.
Coined as the “People’s COP,” the event features a “Green Zone” open to the public in downtown Cali. AICS has set up a stand in this area to welcome visitors interested in the Agency’s mission in Colombia and South America, promoting dialogue on sustainable development and environmental protection. AICS hosts daily sessions with representatives from Italian NGOs active in the Andean region and supports agro-ecological producers and eco-sustainable business initiatives during the “Green Business Fair” (October 27-29) as part of its regional programs.
AICS has organized or co-organized 14 events across both COP zones. Among the highlights is the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the “Amazon Without Fire” (PASF) Program, initiated in 1999 through a bilateral agreement between Italy and Brazil.
A focal event for AICS is scheduled for October 28 in the Green Zone, spotlighting the Agency’s efforts to link environmental conservation with socio-economic development of local communities, contributing to global peace and sustainability. This event will be inaugurated by the Head of the Italian Delegation, Undersecretary Barbaro of the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE), and Italian Ambassador to Colombia Giancarlo Maria Curcio, with participation from AICS officials from Bogotá, Havana, San Salvador, and Tirana.
A further significant moment is the October 31 presentation of the Rural Youth Manifesto at the “Colombia Stand” in the Blue Zone. The manifesto, drafted by over 170 young people during the pre-COP16 summit, “Rural Youth in Peace with Nature,” held in August in Nuquí, Colombia with Italian Cooperation support, is a key declaration uniting the voices of young generations on biodiversity preservation at a crucial moment. This event provides Colombian and South American youth with a rare global platform to express their environmental concerns and determination, advocating for their right to participate actively in negotiations on climate and natural resource conservation.
