The Climate Call of Our Time: Canopy at CBD COP16

CALI, COLOMBIA

Each year, global leaders, businesses, and environmental advocates come together at the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity’s Conference of the Parties (CBD COP) to address the accelerating biodiversity and climate crises. This year, COP16 in Cali, Colombia is a pivotal moment to advance bold solutions that safeguard ecosystems, secure needed financing, and create the structural changes needed to mitigate biodiversity loss and address deforestation and forest degradation.

Canopy is proud to be a part of this critical global event. We will be co-hosting a high-calibre panel alongside the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) at COP16, titled "Financing A Systemic Solution for Forest and Biodiversity Conservation." This discussion, featuring leaders from the fashion, investment, and government sectors, will highlight the immense economic and environmental opportunities in substituting forest-based materials with innovative Next Gen Solutions. These alternatives‌ — ‌derived from sources like agricultural residues (normally burned) and recycled textiles (normally landfilled) — ‌are essential for reducing demand for wood pulp in paper, packaging, and textile supply chains, unlocking major conservation gains for land, water, and biodiversity.

It is undeniable that to halt biodiversity loss and address the climate crisis, we must secure the protection of 30–50% of Earth’s land and water. The Nature Needs Half initiative calls for this critical conservation target to safeguard ecosystems like the Amazon and Boreal forests‌ — ‌places that store vast amounts of carbon and provide vital habitat for countless species. Achieving these protections is crucial to stabilizing the climate and preventing further ecosystem collapse.

However, reaching these goals will require transforming the way we produce and consume materials. Every year, over five billion trees are cut down to meet the global demand for paper, packaging, and MMCF fabrics, leading to deforestation and ecosystem degradation in some of the most vital regions on the planet. During our panel at COP16, Canopy will demonstrate how Next Gen material innovations are key to relieving this pressure on forests and advancing circular, low-carbon supply chains. These solutions offer a way to move beyond the take-make-waste model and toward a future where forests and biodiversity can thrive.

At Canopy, we know that transforming supply chains is not just good for business‌ — ‌it is essential for protecting biodiversity and stabilizing the climate. Our work with global brands is proving that Next Gen materials are not fringe alternatives‌ — ‌they are the future. As we take part in COP16, our message is clear: protecting nature and securing a livable planet requires immediate, bold action to transform unsustainable supply chains into resilient, circular systems.

Stay tuned as we bring you more updates from COP16 on the collaborations and breakthroughs that will help secure a future where biodiversity, forests, and communities can thrive.