COP17 must settle who decides how Cali Fund money is disbursed

At the upcoming COP17 summit, delegates must resolve governance decisions regarding the disbursement mechanism of the Cali Fund. This follows a major commitment made at COP16 in Cali, where governments agreed that a minimum of 50 percent of the fund's resources must be directed toward supporting the self-identified needs of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

The debate over who decides how these funds are distributed highlights ongoing negotiations regarding direct support and autonomy for local groups. June Rubis, a steering group committee member representing Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo, is among the figures emphasizing the urgency of establishing clear decision-making processes for the fund.