Uncovered: The 'Cali Fund' for natural preservation remains unfilled, emails indicate industry's reluctance
The Cali Fund, established under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) last autumn, remains unfunded more than five months after its official opening. The fund aims to provide a platform for companies who rely on nature's genetic resources to share some of their earnings with the developing, biodiverse countries where many of the original resources are found.
AstraZeneca and GSK, the UK's two largest pharmaceutical companies, have not yet made direct financial contributions to the Cali Fund. However, they are at different stages of engagement.
AstraZeneca has been approached by Defra and the CBD secretariat to lead contributions to the Cali Fund but has so far only indicated it is "conducting an assessment" and "welcomes conversation" when ready. It declined initial meetings but remains open for future engagement.
GSK, on the other hand, has not been explicitly mentioned regarding direct Cali Fund participation. However, the company is recognised for its ambitious emissions reduction targets and transparency in reporting its environmental impact, including biodiversity considerations, aligned with broader sustainability goals.
The Cali Fund could generate between US$1 billion and US$10 billion each year, according to a 2024 analysis. Dr Siva Thambisetty, an associate professor of law, described the first contribution to the Cali Fund as a "prize that's just waiting to be won."
The ABPI, a global pharmaceutical trade group, had "serious concerns" about proposals around the fund at the start of COP16. The ABPI criticised the agreed 0.1 per cent and 1 per cent contribution rates for companies, stating that they are "regarded by industries generally as being unrealistic and likely to impact innovation."
Despite this, countries agreed that certain companies "should" pay into the fund, but this is not legally binding, and donations are ultimately voluntary. Norway, Germany, the Netherlands, and Colombia have also joined the "friends of the Cali Fund" group.
The majority of hesitancy towards the Cali Fund is believed to be driven by industry bodies, according to Dr Thambisetty. The UK and Chile recently launched the "friends of the Cali Fund" group, which brings together governments and businesses to champion benefits sharing.
As the Cali Fund seeks leadership from companies to make the first contributions, the future of this fund remains uncertain. With the potential for significant financial contributions from pharmaceutical companies like AstraZeneca and GSK, the Cali Fund could play a crucial role in supporting biodiversity and the communities that rely on it.
References: 1. Carbon Brief (2025). Emails reveal pharmaceutical companies' hesitancy towards the Cali Fund. [online] Available at: https://www.carbonbrief.org/emails-reveal-pharmaceutical-companies-hesitancy-towards-the-cali-fund 2. The Guardian (2025). GSK leads industry in biodiversity commitments but shuns Cali Fund. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/may/12/gsk-leads-industry-in-biodiversity-commitments-but-shuns-cali-fund
