UN chief urges 'significant investment' in fund to save nature

Those profiting from nature must help in its protection, restoration, he says at summit

CALI, Colombia – UN chief Antonio Guterres on Oct 20 urged "significant investment" in a fund created to safeguard earth's biodiversity as he addressed delegates to the world's biggest nature protection conference in Cali, Colombia.

The meeting, which officially opened on Oct 21, had a ceremonial kick-off with Cali on high alert after threats from a guerilla group.

Mr Guterres made a video address to guests gathered for the event taking place under the protection of thousands of Colombian police and soldiers, aided by UN and US security personnel.

"We must leave Cali with significant investment in the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF) and commitments to mobilise other sources of public and private finance," Mr Guterres said.

The GBFF was created in 2023 to help countries achieve the goals of the so-called Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted in Canada in 2022 with 23 targets to "halt and reverse" the loss of nature by 2030.

So far, countries have made about US$250 million (S$328 million) in commitments to the fund, according to agencies monitoring progress.