"The Match of Our Lives": Leaders and Women Footballers Unite to Promote Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Action

Football Match During COP16 Highlights Indigenous Guardianship of Ecosystems and Urges Global Support for Environmental Stewardship.

In Cali, Colombia, Indigenous leaders from around the world joined local professional women soccer players in a friendly football match to underscore the essential role of Indigenous Peoples in global biodiversity conservation and climate action. The event, titled "The Match of Our Lives," was held during the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), drawing world leaders, Indigenous Peoples, and fans together to champion environmental stewardship.

Organized by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Nia Tero, in partnership with the Colombian Football Association Dimayor and other environmental organizations, the game was more than just a show of athleticism; it sent a powerful message about the interconnected roles of biodiversity, human rights, and Indigenous sovereignty in protecting nature. Susana Muhamad, Colombia’s Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development and COP16 President opened the match with a symbolic first kick, stating, “We cannot have peace with nature without Indigenous people,” to applause from an enthusiastic crowd.

The teams took to the field with the rallying cry “Score a Goal for Nature. Support Indigenous Peoples.” This message, seen on banners and jerseys, underscored the need for Indigenous rights and secure land tenure as essential components of global conservation efforts. Indigenous Peoples safeguard about 40% of the Earth’s remaining intact ecosystems, yet they receive less than 1% of environmental philanthropic funding. Recent biodiversity reports also highlight a concerning 73% drop in wildlife populations since 1970, underscoring the urgency for collective conservation actions.

The football match’s “Peace with Nature” theme aligned with COP16’s mission to adopt a human rights-based approach to biodiversity protection. Negotiators at COP16 are being urged to include policies that prioritize Indigenous rights, secure land tenure, participation in environmental decision-making, and protection of traditional knowledge within the conference outcomes. Indigenous leaders emphasize that these protections are essential for sustained ecosystem health and biodiversity.

Ramiro Batzin, co-president of the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity, and Midori Paxton, UNDP’s Nature Director, highlighted football’s global appeal as a unifying force, bringing attention to the critical role Indigenous communities play in conservation efforts. "Sport, and especially football, provides us with a common language, understandable around the world," Paxton said. "This match is an opportunity to carry beyond the walls of COP the message that making peace with nature is critical for achieving a sustainable future."

Through “The Match of Our Lives,” Indigenous leaders and environmental advocates reminded COP16 participants that Indigenous knowledge systems are irreplaceable in the quest for biodiversity and climate solutions.