UNAM STUDENT JOINS UNICEF COP16 IN COLOMBIA

In recognition of his environmental activism and contributions to scientific communication, Ángel Uriel Fuentes Piña, a Biology student at UNAM’s College of Sciences, represented Mexico at the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16). The conference is being held in Cali, Colombia, from October 21 through November 1.

Before COP16, Fuentes attended the Global Youth Summit on Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss, organized by UNICEF, on October 19 and 20.

Standing out among over 200 young participants, Fuentes Piña emphasized the crucial role of youth voices in addressing these critical issues. “Young people hold a pivotal role in shaping a sustainable future, and we have been working to build a comprehensive stance on the climate crisis and biodiversity,” he stated.

Under the theme “Peace with Nature,” COP16 aims to foster dialogue on humanity’s relationship with the environment and to rethink economic models that prioritize sustainability.

This conference marks a significant milestone, being the first meeting since the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which sets the goal to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.