The world's biggest nature protection conference opened in Colombia on Monday with its president calling for urgent action and financing to reverse humankind's rapacious destruction of biodiversity.

Cali, Colombia - October 20, 2024 Global leaders and environmental experts gathered in Cali, Colombia, on Sunday for the opening ceremony of the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity,

Even though we’re planning on a state level, we’re part of a global ecosystem,” said UVM senior lecturer Walter Poleman, one of four representatives observing the summit on behalf of the Vermont Biodiversity Alliance,