OCTOBER 15, 2024 — In preparation for the 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16), the official flag of the event is now flying at government buildings in Bogotá, including Casa de Nariño, the official residence of Colombia’s president, according to the Colombian Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development.
The flag features a white background with the logo of the Inírida flower, a species endemic to Colombia. According to the UN Convention of Biological Diversity, the petals of the flower represent the 23 targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the 13 ecoregions of Colombia.
The color palette of the flag highlights three pathways for action: reducing threats, meeting people’s needs, and developing tools and solutions, while emphasizing the importance of synergies.
Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Susana Muhamad, stated that the flag symbolizes not only Colombia’s alignment with the international community but also its leadership role in global biodiversity efforts.
At the Valle del Pacífico Event Center in Cali, the UN flag has also been raised, marking the site as an area of international jurisdiction for the duration of the COP16 conference, reported El Campesino. Muhamad described the flag-raising as “historic” for Colombia, as it is the first time the UN flag has been flown in the country. She emphasized that the blue flag signifies Colombia’s role as the global host for this critical discussion, aimed at safeguarding biodiversity and all forms of life.
The flag-raising is not merely symbolic, as it signifies that the United Nations is now responsible for security within the conference area. They will be supported by 800 police and military officers, forming strict security rings around the perimeter, reported 90minutos.
COP16 will run from October 21 to November 1, 2024.
Image: Colombian Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development