The United Nations biodiversity conference in Cali, Colombia, is underway, focusing on global efforts to protect nature. The conference, known as COP16, aims to address the alarming decline in biodiversity, with over 175 nations participating. The U.S., however, has not ratified the decades-old biodiversity treaty, making it a non-party to the negotiations despite its significant engagement in environmental initiatives. :

U.S. Non-Party Status:
The U.S. is one of only two countries, along with the Holy See, that have not ratified the biodiversity treaty, identified by a red stripe on their badges.

Global Engagement:
Despite not being a party, the U.S. sends a delegation to the conference, allocates hundreds of millions of dollars for biodiversity initiatives, and undertakes its own environmental protection efforts.

Historical Context:
The U.S. played a pivotal role in crafting the biodiversity treaty in the 1980s but has faced opposition from Republicans in the Senate, preventing ratification.

Civil Society Presence:
U.S. civil society is actively involved in the conference, with a delegation of about thirty representatives from Washington and the embassy in Bogotá.

U.S. Environmental Goals:
The Biden administration is committed to protecting at least 30 percent of the country's terrestrial and marine areas by 2030, as highlighted by Mallory, chair of the Council on Environmental Quality.

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