Excitement and tension are in the air as the world’s biggest nature protection conference kicks off in Cali, Colombia. The host city is on high alert following threats from a guerilla group, but that hasn’t dampened the spirits of the delegates.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will address the attendees through a video message, and Colombian President Gustavo Petro is in attendance, despite expressing nervousness about security. Thousands of Colombian police and soldiers, along with UN and US security personnel, are on hand to ensure the safety of everyone at the high-stakes UN biodiversity gathering.
The city center, conference venue, and airport are all being patrolled by armed police, underscoring the seriousness of the situation. Over the next few days, approximately 12,000 delegates from nearly 200 countries, including government ministers and heads of state, will participate in the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).