Cali has been selected as the host city for the upcoming COP 16, the most significant international event on biodiversity, scheduled to take place from October 21 to November 1, 2024.
The announcement comes as a momentous occasion for Cali, positioning the city at the forefront of global discussions on environmental conservation and sustainability. With an estimated 12,000 attendees expected to converge in the capital of Valle del Cauca during the event, Cali is poised to showcase its commitment to environmental stewardship on the international stage.
“Colombia will be the international negotiator on biodiversity”
Minister of Environment Susana Muhamad.
In a letter addressed to Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development Susana Muhamad and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Elizabeth Taylor on February 12th, 42 council members highlighted why Bogotá was the ideal choice to host this internationally significant event.
However, the government ultimately chose Cali. “Selecting the venue is not easy, not only because of the availability of infrastructure, but also because of how that location can align with what the conference proposes. It has to go beyond just providing food and lodging. It was a difficult process, but we leaned towards the most biodiverse region of Colombia, the Colombian Pacific,” explained the President.
Amidst the announcement, Gustavo Petro explained that a significant factor in choosing Cali as the host city was the historical impact of the Colombian Pacific region. “We leaned towards the most biodiverse region of Colombia, where despite everything, we have the world’s biodiversity capital, called the Colombian Pacific. With black, indigenous, and mixed-race communities,” said the president.
Another significant factor in selecting Cali as the host city was the historical impact of the Colombian Pacific region. “We leaned towards the most biodiverse region of Colombia, where despite everything, we have the world’s biodiversity capital, called the Colombian Pacific. With black, indigenous, and mixed-race communities,” said the president.
Minister Susana Muhamad highlighted that COP-16 is the largest event ever held in Colombia, and Cali passed the filter of the necessary conditions and potentials.
The summit, which will host delegations from more than 180 countries, would bring benefits to the city by promoting tourism and energizing the economy. The ‘heavenly branch’ ensured it has the necessary logistical capacity to handle such an event.
Meanwhile, the Bogotá city council, one of the other finalist cities, congratulated Cali on its victory:
“Congratulations to Cali, host of the World Biodiversity Summit #COP16. Our country will be well represented with all the biodiversity and richness of southwestern Colombia.”
Located between the Cauca River and the Andes Mountains and surrounded by seven rivers, 12 eco-parks, and 61 wetlands, Cali is known as the ‘District of Waters.’ It represents the great biodiversity of Colombia, which is considered the second most biodiverse country in the world, with 2,129,748 square kilometers of continental and maritime territory. The city’s fauna and flora complement the magnificent natural landscape, with nearly 600 different bird species, accounting for more than a third of those found in the country.
