Written by Louise Romain

Spending 12 out of 14 days in the Blue Zone sure felt like a marathon of sorts. By the end, I had roamed in all of the pavilions (found the best place for free coffee), sat in the rooms where contacts groups were meeting for negotiations, visited most of the stands, joined plenary sessions, and even took an afternoon nap in the lawn. I attended this COP with a specific agenda: to produce a podcast series of short interviews amplifying the demands and priorities of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (what is commonly known as IPLCs in the COP world), women and youth - voices that are still marginalised, especially when you get to the decision-making stages.

Lousie Romain interviewing Lucy Mulenkei, co-chair of the IIFB (International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity). — What stood out most from doing this series, was being met by the strength, courage and resilience of these community leaders, to keep showing up in global policy making spaces despite how predatory, strenuous, alienating and exclusive they are. Whether it was their first or their tenth COP, people for whom 'biodiversity' simply means life, pull together colossal efforts and resources to make sure to bring their concerns as well as solutions to the table and to the international community.

I spent the second week attending various finance and business related side events, talking with bankers and C-suite executives, trying to better understand what bridges can be built towards the Earth's best stewards of biodiversity (IPLCs and women) who kept repeating the same demand like a banging drum: we need access to direct funding.

Louise Romain interviewing Lucy Mulenkei, co-chair of the IIFB (International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity).

And I would add, as this COP edition happened in the world's most deadly country for environmental defenders, they also need protection, safety and respect for their rights, lands and waterways.

The CBD COP16 ended with major achievements and victories (the Cali fund, the Permanent Subsidiary Body on Art. 8j, the New Programme of Work on Art. 8j, the recognition of the role of Afro descendants). But time ran out to finalise the most thorny discussion items, such as the financial mechanisms, resource mobilisation and the monitoring framework, which will now be considered for adoption in Rome next February. COP is as diverse as one experiences it, there isn't a single COP but a multitude of parallel experiences based on who you meet and who you are and relative to your priorities, privileges and physical, mental and emotional capacities to withstand such an intense environment. I feel deeply grateful to have played my part as an Earth's envoy, and to keep sowing seeds of care, solidarity and fortitude in the coveted COP land.

In the photo to the right, Amazonian leaders stand united after a side event discussion hosted by Amazon Watch.

Reflecting on COP16

Introducing: Ecoforensic

The London Water March