This piece comes to us from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). Views and opinions expressed in blog posts are those of the individuals expressing them and do not necessarily reflect those of THIRTEEN Productions LLC/The WNET Group.
The United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16) that convenes this week in Cali, Colombia, will have “Peace with Nature” as its main theme. Although this motto, promoted by the host government, seems intuitive and well-suited to generate consensus, it is a relatively new concept, still in the process of debate, definition, and adaptation to various contexts.
In this circumstance, two key questions arise: what does Peace with Nature really mean, and perhaps more importantly, is it possible to achieve?
By addressing the drivers of biodiversity loss—such as habitat destruction, overexploitation, and climate change—the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework supports the creation of more resilient ecosystems that can sustain both nature and human communities. Photo credit: Julie Larsen ©WCS.
As a Colombian and the director of a conservation organization in one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet, and simultaneously one of the most affected by a prolonged armed conflict, this theme deeply resonates with our work. In Colombia, the armed conflict has been closely linked to socio-environmental disputes.
Control over natural resources such as land, minerals, and illicit crops has been a central factor in the violence, exacerbated by the lack of state support for legal and sustainable economies in remote rural areas. These conflicts have not only impacted critical ecosystems but also severely violated human rights of local communities, reinforcing Colombia’s standing as one of the most dangerous countries for those defending the environment.
The concept of “peace with nature” can be closely related to environmental peacebuilding, although there are differences in their scope and focus. Environmental peacebuilding gained relevance starting in the 1970s, when modern environmentalism emerged as a response to global ecological crises. Its primary focus is on the sustainable management of natural resources as a tool to prevent and resolve human conflicts.
Peace with nature, entailing a broader meaning, advocates for a profound shift in the relationship between human societies and the natural world. This approach promotes sustainable development that respects planetary boundaries and fosters environmental justice. In 2020, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the importance of this call, stating that “making peace with nature is the defining task of the 21st century.”
“Peace with Nature” advocates for a profound shift in the relationship between human societies and the natural world. Photo credit: Mileniusz Spanowicz ©WCS.
Both concepts recognize that environmental degradation and unsustainable resource management not only exacerbate existing conflicts but also generate new social tensions. In this context, the protection and restoration of ecosystems are not just conservation goals, but vital tools for fostering social stability and justice.
In Colombia, particularly after the signing of the Peace Agreement in 2016, collaborative environmental peacebuilding initiatives have been implemented, such as developing sustainable economic alternatives for ex-combatants, with support from various sectors.
However, achieving peace with nature in Colombia and around the world demands even greater collective efforts. While some promising steps have been taken in key areas such as climate change mitigation, progress towards the transition to sustainable economic models based on resource efficiency and renewable resources, ecological restoration, and coexistence with wildlife remains limited.
The government, private sector, philanthropy, and non-governmental organizations have all played crucial roles—both internally in Colombia and with international cooperation—yet significant challenges persist in fully consolidating these efforts. Likewise, continued and enhanced support for the struggles of Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and campesino communities in conserving their territories is essential, but still insufficient.
CBD COP16 represents a crucial opportunity to reaffirm the call to transform our relationship with the natural world and recognize nature as a driver of peace. Photo credit: Julie Larsen ©WCS.
The road ahead remains long and requires deeper, sustained collaboration across all sectors and nations. With the arrival of COP16, the Colombian government strengthens its global call to rethink our relationship with nature. Central to its vision of peace with nature is the transformation of a current economic model that prioritizes extraction, overexploitation, and environmental degradation, shifting towards one that places sustainability and equity at the forefront.
The world has several key tools at its disposal to achieve this. International agreements and treaties such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the new “Pact for the Future” recently adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and the Escazú Agreement, recently ratified by Colombia, provide the necessary framework to advance the task of making peace with nature.
To these we can add the CBD’s Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the topic at hand at the coming COP16 gathering in Cali. By addressing the drivers of biodiversity loss—such as habitat destruction, overexploitation, and climate change—this framework supports the creation of more resilient ecosystems that can sustain both nature and human communities.
Its focus on equitable sharing of benefits, protecting the rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities, and promoting sustainable use of natural resources further reinforces the idea of peace with nature, where social justice and environmental health are intertwined
Nevertheless, while the world has reached important social and environmental agreements, the reality is that we have largely failed to meet many of these commitments. While effective coordination between various agendas is essential, the critical point is moving from discourse to action. And this responsibility does not rest solely on governments but on society as a whole.
Without a doubt, CBD COP16 represents a crucial opportunity to reaffirm the call from a Global South country to transform our relationship with the natural world and recognize nature as a driver of peace. In this decisive decade, it is imperative that this call translates into concrete actions that drive real and urgent change towards a more sustainable and just future.
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