The United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16), taking place this week in Cali, Colombia, will center around the theme "Peace with Nature." While this slogan, championed by the host government, seems both intuitive and conducive to building consensus, it is still a relatively new concept—one that is evolving through ongoing debate, definition, and adaptation to diverse contexts.
This raises two crucial questions: What does "Peace with Nature" truly mean, and perhaps more importantly, is it something we can actually achieve?
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework tackles key drivers of biodiversity loss, including habitat destruction, overexploitation, and climate change. By addressing these challenges, it aims to build more resilient ecosystems that can support 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 Earth—yet also one of the most affected by decades of armed conflict—this theme deeply resonates with our work. In Colombia, the armed conflict has been intricately tied to socio-environmental disputes, where control over natural resources such as land, minerals, and illicit crops has fueled much of the violence. This has been compounded by the lack of state presence and support for legal and sustainable economies in remote rural areas.
These conflicts have not only devastated critical ecosystems but have also led to severe human rights violations against local communities. As a result, Colombia remains one of the most dangerous countries for environmental defenders.
The idea of "peace with nature" is closely aligned with environmental peacebuilding, although the two concepts differ in scope and focus. Environmental peacebuilding began gaining prominence in the 1970s, as modern environmentalism emerged in response to global ecological crises. Its primary focus is on managing natural resources sustainably to prevent and resolve human conflicts.
"Peace with nature," however, carries a broader, more holistic meaning. It advocates for a transformative shift in the relationship between human societies and the natural world—one that emphasizes sustainable development, respects planetary boundaries, and upholds environmental justice. In 2020, UN Secretary-General António Guterres underscored the urgency of this vision, declaring that "making peace with nature is the defining task of the 21st century."
Both concepts recognize that environmental degradation and unsustainable resource management not only intensify existing conflicts but also create new social tensions. In this context, protecting and restoring ecosystems goes beyond conservation goals; they become essential tools for promoting social stability and justice.
In Colombia, particularly after the 2016 Peace Agreement, collaborative environmental peacebuilding initiatives have emerged, including efforts to create sustainable economic alternatives for ex-combatants, supported by various sectors.
However, achieving "peace with nature" in Colombia and globally requires even more concerted efforts. While there have been promising strides in areas like climate change mitigation and the shift toward sustainable economic models based on resource efficiency and renewable energy, progress in ecological restoration, wildlife coexistence, and broader sustainability remains slow.
The government, private sector, philanthropy, and non-governmental organizations have all played key roles—both within Colombia and through international cooperation—but significant challenges remain in fully realizing these efforts. Equally important is continued and expanded support for Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and campesino communities in their efforts to conserve their territories, though this support remains inadequate.
The road ahead is long and requires deeper, sustained collaboration across all sectors and nations. With COP16 on the horizon, the Colombian government is amplifying its global call to rethink our relationship with nature. At the heart of its vision for "peace with nature" is the need to transform the current economic model—one that prioritizes extraction, overexploitation, and environmental degradation—into one that centers sustainability, equity, and long-term well-being for both people and the planet.
The world has several key tools to help achieve this transformation. International agreements like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the newly adopted “Pact for the Future” by the UN General Assembly, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, and the Escazú Agreement (recently ratified by Colombia) provide an essential framework for making peace with nature.
In addition, the CBD’s Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which will be a key focus at COP16 in Cali, is a crucial instrument. By addressing drivers of biodiversity loss such as habitat destruction, overexploitation, and climate change, the framework helps pave the way for more resilient ecosystems that can sustain both nature and human communities.
With its emphasis on the equitable sharing of benefits, the protection of Indigenous peoples' and local communities' rights, and the sustainable use of natural resources, this framework reinforces the idea of peace with nature, where environmental health and social justice are inseparable.
Despite these critical agreements, however, the reality is that many of these commitments have yet to be fully realized. While effective coordination across different agendas is crucial, the key challenge is moving from discourse to action. This responsibility cannot fall solely on governments—it must be shared by society as a whole.
Without a doubt, COP16 offers a pivotal opportunity for a Global South country to reaffirm the call for a transformative shift in our relationship with the natural world, recognizing nature as a fundamental driver of peace. In this decisive decade, it is imperative that this call translates into concrete actions that lead to real, urgent change, steering us toward a more sustainable and just future.
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