The 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was held in Cali, Colombia, from October 21 to November 1, 2024. The biodiversity summit was the first since the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). Although COP16 has been heralded as the ‘bluest’ COP yet, the DSCC called for deeper commitments to protect the ocean’s depths.
At COP16, the DSCC hosted a side event to celebrate two decades of advocating for deep-sea protection: “Honoring the Past, Shaping the Future.“ The gathering was a moment to reflect on the progress made and to outline the next steps in ensuring the future of the deep sea remains safeguarded from harmful activities, such as deep-sea mining and deep-sea bottom trawling.
Celebrating Ocean Champions
The event also paid tribute to two deep-sea champions who have dedicated their careers to protecting vulnerable marine ecosystems:
- Matt Gianni, DSCC co-founder, whose advocacy has been instrumental in securing international agreements to protect the deep sea.
- Kristina Gjerde, Ocean Advocate, whose tireless efforts have advanced the legal and scientific understanding of ocean governance and biodiversity protection.
Their decades of work have been foundational to the Coalition’s successes and serve as an inspiration for the next generation of ocean advocates.
Peter Thomson, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the OceanThe Most Remarkable Life on the Planet
Peter Thomson, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, highlighted the incredible biodiversity of the deep sea, stating:
“As we discover what is down there, we are realising that the most important thing is not the riches from the minerals but the life. This is probably the most remarkable life on the planet.”
His words underscored the deep sea’s irreplaceable value, not just for its biodiversity but for its essential role in stabilising the planet’s climate and ecosystems.
Sian Owen, DSC Executive DirectorLooking Ahead
The DSCC, along with our members and partner, continue to advocate for strong commitments from world leaders to protect the deep-sea from the threats it currently faces, as well as those that are emerging.
Together we seek to ensure that the deep-sea remains a global priority in the fight against biodiversity loss and climate change.