(Oct 21): Malaysia will advocate for the adoption of nature-based solutions to enhance climate resilience, and commit to expand its network of protected areas at the 16th meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16), which is being held from Monday (Oct 21) until Nov 1 at Cali, Colombia, Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad tells ESG.

Nik Nazmi says Malaysia will also focus on rehabilitation, enhancing protected area networks, reducing biodiversity threats from poaching and illegal logging, empowering local communities and improving biodiversity research and data collection to meet its biodiversity goals.

“At COP16, Malaysia will advocate for mainstreaming these approaches across sectors such as agriculture, fisheries and urban planning to reduce biodiversity loss and improve ecosystem services. Malaysia will continue to push for stronger recognition and protection of indigenous people and local communities as key stewards of biodiversity,” he says.

Additionally, Malaysia will also establish a national biodiversity monitoring framework linked to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), he says. Malaysia became among the first parties to integrate the KMGBF into its national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAP). This is through the National Policy on Biological Diversity (NPBD) 2022-2030 that was released in October 2023, which is aligned with the KMGBF.

In this stead, the National Biodiversity Council has been strengthened as the key platform for the NPBD for discussing national biodiversity agenda and monitoring the progress of the national policy, says Nik Nazmi.

“During the last council meeting, the establishment of thematic working groups was agreed upon to streamline focus on specific biodiversity issues…. We are developing an online monitoring system that will enhance data collection, track progress of actions under the NPBD and ensure transparency in reporting our biodiversity targets,” he says.

During COP16, Malaysia will need substantial financial assistance to meet its biodiversity goals, which includes support from international funds such as the Global Environment Facility, says Nik Nazmi. A study by the Economic Planning Unit revealed that RM2.38 billion is needed to achieve the target of the NPBD, he says, and RM1.4 billion have been secured thus far.

In fact, securing enough financing for biodiversity is a key topic at COP16. The critical target for the mobilisation of US$20 billion (RM86.08 billion) a year in official development assistance for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use is not on track.

“There’s currently a US$700 billion gap for nature financing, which will be a major focus at COP16. A critical first step would be for wealthy countries to deliver the US$20 billion they pledged to developing countries by 2025. We will also need to strengthen incentives and explore innovative mechanisms to attract private sector finance,” says Crystal Davis, global director of the food, land and water programme at the World Resources Institute (WRI).

“It’s crucial to address the funding gap by redirecting harmful subsidies towards sustainable initiatives and exploring innovative financing sources.”

Other key issues include the submission of first progress reports by countries on the KMGBF, where parties will update or create a NBSAP. This will determine whether the world is on track to meet the global biodiversity targets set for 2030, which is that 30% of terrestrial, inland water, coastal and marine areas must be conserved and managed by then.

Malaysia can play a significant role at COP16 by contributing to the global discussion by sharing its experiences in developing green indicators and a planetary health roadmap, as well as to advocate for an integrated approach to addressing biodiversity, climate change and sustainable development, says WWF Malaysia's director of policy and climate change Lakshmi Lavanya Rama Iyer.

“Finance is always key. What we need to see being forged is an integrated approach to see the financing of nature, climate and sustainable development objectives all coming together [and not through a siloed] approach,” she says.

Malaysia can also further enhance the NPBD to align with latest scientific research while encouraging sustainable consumption patterns, says Lakshmi. While the NBPD incorporates the principles of KMGBF and is a good foundation, there is a room for improvement. Malaysia should also aim to focus on the nature-climate nexus and integrate nature-based solutions into its climate adaptation strategies

“What we would like to see in future revisions of the [NPBD] policy before it expires in 2030 would be a stronger focus on recognition of the nature-climate nexus… COP30 is going to be in Brazil, and there is this link between COP16 and Brazil COP30, where I think nature will be strongly focused because we’re looking at Brazil as a very important space for forest conservation,” she says.

The involvement of indigenous peoples and local communities in biodiversity is another key topic at COP16.

This is a point echoed by Dr June Rubis, a delegate of the Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia for COP16. She says these communities possess knowledge and practices that have been passed down through generations, enabling them to sustainably manage resources. However, their rights and contributions are often overlooked.

One of the issues to note at COP16 would be the establishment of a permanent body to support the participation of indigenous peoples and local communities in the conservation of biological diversity work, she says. The body, which is the working group for Article 8(j), would play a crucial role in ensuring that indigenous voices are heard.

“Article 8(j) focuses on the respect and preservation of traditional knowledge and practices of indigenous people and local communities, as well as their involvement in biodiversity conservation efforts. It encourages the equitable sharing of benefits that arise from the use of this traditional knowledge,” says June.

Furthermore, indigenous-led conservation efforts can significantly contribute to target 23 of the KMGBF, which aims to protect at least 30% of the Earth’s land and marine areas by 2030, she adds. Target 23 builds on the principles of Article 8(j) to ensure that indigenous knowledge is a core part of biodiversity strategies by ensuring that traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous peoples and local communities are respected, protected and integrated into biodiversity conservation, she adds.

While the inclusion of indigenous peoples in the NBSAP is a positive step, there is a need to work with state governments to ensure that NBSAP goals are aligned with the states, says June. It is also important to avoid tokenism and ensure that indigenous participation is meaningful and effective.

“I’m hoping for more dialogue [after COP16] and that indigenous advocates can be included in the national and state working groups in regards to the NBSAP. I really hope to see Malaysia as a leader in COP16, supporting the indigenous peoples and local communities caucus, the women caucus and the youth caucus when they’re making suggestions,” says June

After COP16, countries should focus on actionable strategies to turn commitments into real outcomes, says Davis. Countries can ensure accountability and transparency in implementing their COP16 commitments by establishing strong monitoring systems.

WRI suggests a few key principles for nature monitoring such as having independent third party monitoring alongside government efforts. “Transparency is also crucial, the methods and data used should be open and peer-reviewed,” says Davis.

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