November 7, 2024 in Bogota, Colombia, an international working meeting took place concerning collaboration with the “Adaptation Fund” an entity affiliated with the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit of the Colombian government. The meeting was held within the framework of the COP16 Conference on Biological Diversity, which was conducted in Cali and Bogotá from 16th October to 1st November 2024. This event was organised at the initiative of the National Coordination of the Country Programme of the International Human Rights Commission – IHRC for the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, in collaboration with the Soundelé Konan Foundation and GEDUS NETWORKS.
The meeting gathered key financial and climate experts, including participants from:
1.The Adaptation Fund under the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit of Colombia.
2.The Ministry of Environment of Colombia.
3.The ANNA PERENA Foundation, represented by Ms. Jenny de la Torre Córdoba, President of the Foundation and Special Adviser, with ministerial rank, to the President of Colombia on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law.
4.The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia.
5.The Soundelé Konan Foundation—for the protection and development of fauna and flora.
6.The Global Representative of GEDUS NETWORKS, Inc.
The discussions centred around the issue of access to funding for the implementation of joint community projects in Africa and South America, with a particular emphasis on the Republic of Colombia. Within the framework of this international initiative, held under COP16, the aim was to develop a strategy for multilateral and bilateral cooperation within environmental diplomacy to effectively implement joint community projects to combat climate change.
Colombia was chosen as the host for these discussions intentionally, being a country with significant tropical forest coverage, playing a key role in protecting biodiversity. The stakeholders defined several main areas of action:
Review of community projects in the form of pilot drafts – Rapid establishment of an environmental diplomatic representation in Bogotá with a coordinating unit responsible for cooperation between Côte d’Ivoire and Colombia concerning biodiversity protection and combating climate change.Finding swift and effective solutions to mobilise resources for the implementation of joint climate projects.
The institutions of the Republic of Colombia are fully involved in these efforts aimed at protecting biodiversity and combating climate change. This support program is a joint technical and financial initiative designed to effectively counteract the negative impacts of climate change.
The National Coordination of the Country Programme of IHRC for Côte d’Ivoire, linked with ECOWAS countries and other partners, including the Soundelé Konan Foundation and GEDUS NETWORKS, once again demonstrate their readiness and commitment to fighting the climate crisis through the joint implementation of community projects aimed at environmental protection.
Reported:
Vamara Fofana
IHRC Commisioner, IHRC Press Jurnalist
Environmental diplomacy focuses on international cooperation to tackle global environmental challenges like climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. It involves negotiations and treaties aimed at promoting sustainable development and resolving conflicts over natural resources. Key examples include the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement, which aim to curb greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming.
This field of diplomacy requires preparation, understanding national interests, and collaborating within international coalitions to achieve shared goals. It often involves complex negotiations that blend legal, scientific, and diplomatic expertise to address pressing environmental issues.
Environmental diplomacy drives international efforts to combat climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss through treaties like the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement. It demands balancing national interests and global cooperation, requiring legal, scientific, and diplomatic expertise to forge sustainable solutions to shared environmental challenges.