Outcomes from COP16 and Future Contributions from PlanBlue
Reflections from Hannah Brocke
Attending COP16 has been an eye-opening experience, highlighting both the progress and the challenges in implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). Reflecting on what I’ve seen and learned, I feel both encouraged and concerned. Encouraged by the many committed people driving conversations and collaborations, but also concerned that we might be losing sight of the bigger picture, particularly regarding the ocean and the urgency for large-scale action.
Key Outcomes from COP16
1. The Need for Greater Ocean Focus
While discussions at COP16 have centered around protecting biodiversity, marine ecosystems are receiving far less attention than they deserve. As someone who has worked closely with marine ecosystems and Indigenous communities, I see the ocean as crucial to addressing climate change, food security, and biodiversity loss. Yet, many debates overlook the fact that nature is not only green but also blue. The ocean covers two-thirds of our planet, and we cannot afford to neglect it. Small Island States, or as I like to call them, Large Ocean States, are leading efforts to bring ocean issues to the forefront, but we need a stronger global focus on this vital part of our ecosystem.
2. Challenges in Monitoring and Biodiversity Assessments
One of the key discussions has focused on biodiversity monitoring, which is essential for achieving GBF goals. However, I’ve witnessed many debates, disagreements, and even deadlocks:
- Defining biodiversity: What exactly constitutes a species? Conversations with taxonomists often become philosophical, which, while important, can delay actionable outcomes.
- Ecosystem variability: Ecosystems vary significantly, making it difficult to apply a one-size-fits-all approach to biodiversity monitoring. This has led to ongoing discussions.
- Shifting baselines: We don’t always have data on what ecosystems looked like before they were degraded, and there’s little agreement on how to handle this challenge.
3. Biodiversity Credits
While there is consensus on the need for credible, transparent, and trusted biodiversity credits to justify financing and monetization, there’s no clear alignment on how to implement these credits across the entire value chain of financing.
4. The Urgency for Action and Innovation
What concerns me most is that we might be focusing too much on the details. While debates about definitions and methods are important, time is running out. The GBF’s main goal is to prevent biodiversity loss, restore ecosystems, and address global challenges like climate change. But are we getting lost in the details when we should be acting quickly? I strongly believe that the solution lies in focusing on ecosystem health and removing stressors—we need to act fast and at scale, without getting bogged down in endless discussions.
PlanBlue’s Role and Future Contributions
1. Innovative Monitoring Technology for Ocean and Ecosystem Health
At PlanBlue, we are deeply committed to making biodiversity monitoring accessible and actionable, particularly for marine ecosystems. Our technology is designed to be Plug-and-Play, empowering local stakeholders and communities to participate in monitoring and conservation efforts. We fill a critical gap by focusing on the ocean and providing fast, transparent insights through our color-coded, geo-referenced maps. These tools help identify stressors and give decision-makers clear, actionable data they can use immediately.
2.Scaling Impact with Timely, Actionable Insights
Rather than getting stuck in philosophical debates about definitions, PlanBlue focuses on what can be done now to make a difference. We prioritize ecosystem health by identifying and addressing stressors using our technology to provide real-time, scalable solutions. This aligns perfectly with the GBF’s call for innovation to enable large-scale impact. Through our visualization tools, we offer transparent data that helps stakeholders—from policymakers to local communities—make quick, informed decisions and track progress over time.
3.Support for Biodiversity Credits
PlanBlue is eager to help shape the future of biodiversity credits, ensuring they are designed to be both credible and actionable, driving meaningful investment in biodiversity protection. We believe that when implemented effectively, biodiversity credits can create tangible financial incentives for conserving ecosystems.
My Call to Action
Looking ahead, I believe we must act now. The focus should be on fast, large-scale improvements by removing stressors from ecosystems. We cannot afford to delay action while we debate the details—we need innovation that provides clear, transparent, and timely information that decision-makers and communities can understand and act upon.
At PlanBlue, we are proud to contribute to this mission with tools that empower stakeholders, particularly for marine ecosystems, which hold some of the greatest potential for addressing climate change and biodiversity loss. We will continue to advocate for the ocean’s rightful place in biodiversity conversations, and we are committed to providing innovative solutions that can scale to meet the urgency of today’s challenges.
Let’s not lose sight of the bigger picture—we need to focus on what truly matters: taking action, scaling impact, and protecting our planet’s most precious ecosystems.
We combine hyperspectral imaging, precise underwater navigation and AI-based automated data processing to ground-truth satellite, aerial and hydrographic imagery to scale nature-based solutions.
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