The world is not on track to meet its commitments to protect nature and biodiversity by 2030, the United Nations’ biodiversity chief has warned, raising concerns ahead of a major international conference in Armenia.
Astrid Schomaker, executive secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, said countries must significantly accelerate their efforts if they are to meet the targets agreed by nearly 200 nations.
Countries Falling Behind on 2030 Nature Targets
Almost all countries agreed four years ago to protect 30% of the planet’s land and oceans by 2030 in response to the growing threats facing ecosystems, wildlife and plant species.
Wealthier nations also committed to providing developing countries with $30 billion annually to support biodiversity conservation.
However, progress remains uneven.
Following nearly three weeks of preparatory negotiations in Nairobi, the Convention on Biological Diversity said countries recognised that the world was not moving quickly enough to achieve the agreed biodiversity targets.
Conservation Efforts Showing Progress
According to the UN biodiversity body, there have been some encouraging developments in conservation.
However, progress has been slower in other areas, including mobilising financial resources, reforming environmentally harmful subsidies and ensuring inclusive governance.
Schomaker said the upcoming negotiations in Armenia would require strong political commitment and determination from participating countries.
Major Biodiversity Conference Ahead
National negotiators from countries that signed the global biodiversity agreement are expected to meet in Yerevan, Armenia, in October for the COP17 conference.
The meeting will provide an opportunity to assess progress toward the 2030 targets and determine how countries can strengthen their efforts during the remaining years of the decade.
One of the major unresolved issues is how countries will increase their financial and practical commitments to biodiversity protection.
Dispute Over Cali Fund Continues
Negotiators are also facing disagreements over the Cali Fund, which was established during the previous biodiversity conference in Colombia.
The fund is intended to help developing countries receive a share of the economic benefits generated from genetic resources derived from plants, animals and other biological material.
Discussions over how the fund should operate and how resources should be distributed remain contentious.
Five Major Threats to Biodiversity
The UN identifies five major human-driven causes behind the global biodiversity crisis:
- Habitat destruction
- Overexploitation of natural resources
- Climate change
- Pollution
- Invasive species
These pressures are contributing to the rapid decline of ecosystems and wildlife around the world.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) estimates that more than a quarter of animal and plant species are threatened with extinction.
Growing Pressure to Protect Nature
With the 2030 deadline approaching, environmental experts and governments face increasing pressure to turn international commitments into concrete action.
The upcoming COP17 negotiations in Armenia are expected to focus on financing, conservation, sustainable resource use and stronger implementation of biodiversity policies.
The UN warning highlights a growing concern: protecting nature requires not only ambitious targets but also the financial resources, political will and practical action needed to achieve them.
