The United Nations has issued a stark reminder that global efforts to halt biodiversity loss are not moving fast enough, warning that the world is not on track to meet commitments to safeguard nature by the end of the decade.
Astrid Schomaker, executive secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, said the implementation of the agreed biodiversity framework has been too slow following nearly three weeks of preparatory negotiations in Nairobi, Kenya. Delegates from the 196 signatory countries will convene in Yerevan, Armenia, in October for the COP17 biodiversity conference to review progress and seek ways to accelerate action.
"Implementation is not yet happening at the pace and scale needed to achieve [the targets],"
The central ambition of the framework — often called the 30 by 30 goal — is to conserve at least 30 per cent of the planet’s terrestrial and marine areas by 2030. Alongside that conservation target, wealthy nations previously pledged to mobilize US$30 billion (about €26 billion) annually to support biodiversity protection in developing countries.
Where progress is lagging
Officials with the Convention acknowledged there have been encouraging signs on protected areas, but noted several priority areas where progress has been uneven. The preparatory meeting in Nairobi highlighted slower movement on:
- raising and directing finance to biodiversity priorities;
- reducing or redirecting subsidies and incentives harmful to nature;
- ensuring broader, more inclusive decision-making processes.
Those issues are expected to dominate discussions in Yerevan, as parties attempt to bridge differences over how to strengthen the mechanics of implementation. Delegates also engaged in "intense discussions" around the so-called Cali Fund, a financial mechanism created during previous negotiations to support biodiversity action — an area where views remain divided.
Observers say the stakes are high. The agreement adopted four years ago laid out an ambitious course for governments to halt destruction of ecosystems and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. But without a clear uptick in delivery — both in on-the-ground conservation and in the flow of promised finance — those targets risk slipping further out of reach.
Implications for Canada and international partners
For countries like Canada, which have their own domestic biodiversity strategies and international commitments, the global shortfall amplifies pressure to translate targets into measurable national action. Financial transfers from wealthy to developing states, reform of harmful subsidies — including in agriculture and fisheries — and increasingly inclusive governance are all areas that will require sustained diplomatic and policy attention.
Delegates arriving in Yerevan will need to demonstrate that negotiations can move from ambition to practical, scalable steps. That will include clarifying funding pathways, identifying which subsidies must be reformed and agreeing on processes that better integrate Indigenous peoples and local communities in decision-making.
| Item | Commitment/Target |
|---|---|
| Protected areas | Conserve at least 30% of land, inland waters and seas by 2030 |
| Financial pledge | US$30 billion per year from wealthy nations to developing countries |
What emerges in Yerevan will matter beyond conservation communities. Biodiversity underpins food security, climate resilience and economic activity. Failure to shore up ecosystems could amplify costs for governments and communities already contending with climate impacts. Conversely, a credible plan to accelerate implementation and finance could channel resources into conservation jobs, sustainable use initiatives and cross-border cooperation.
As the October meeting approaches, parties will be pressed to show concrete paths to scale up action rapidly. The UN’s warning from Nairobi is both a reality check and a clarion call: the framework adopted with broad international support four years ago requires immediate and sustained execution if its aims are to be met by 2030.
