The key facts

  • CBD COP17 is taking place in Yerevan from October 19 to 30 under the motto Taking Action For Nature — the midpoint between the adoption of the framework in 2022 and the 2030 deadline.
  • According to the UN, nearly 90% of parties have set national biodiversity targets, more than 70% have submitted progress reports, but less than half of the assessed targets are on track.
  • The 30x30 target is far from being met: about 18.7% of land and inland waters and only 10% of the ocean are protected, including 1.45% of areas beyond national jurisdiction.

First Global Check on the 2030 Targets

A UN summit opened in Yerevan on Monday, where the first global review of progress toward 23 targets aimed at halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030 is being held. This is the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17), which will run until October 30 under the motto Taking Action For Nature. The meeting falls at the midpoint between the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in 2022 and its 2030 deadline.

Data from a New UN Report

According to a UN report published at the opening of the summit, nearly 90% of parties have set national biodiversity targets, and more than 70% have submitted progress reports. However, according to the governments' own assessments, less than half of the national targets are currently on track. The negotiations in Yerevan focus on accelerating implementation, mobilizing financing, strengthening scientific guidance, and expanding the participation of indigenous peoples and local communities.

Expert Assessment

Professor Dogan Yashar, a member of the Turkish Academy of Sciences working group on environment, biodiversity and climate change, told the Anadolu agency that the main goal of the meeting is to reassess what has been done, determine next steps, and restructure areas where progress is insufficient. In his words, the next step is turning national commitments into concrete measures through stronger accountability mechanisms. He also emphasized that biodiversity and climate policy cannot be considered separately, since forests, wetlands, oceans and soils store carbon while simultaneously providing food, water and livelihoods. “The priority should be providing ecosystems with clean water. When ecosystems receive clean water, a healthy ecosystem forms, and this positively affects biodiversity,” he said.

The 30x30 Target Remains Out of Reach

Among the best-known commitments of the framework is the 30x30 target: by 2030, at least 30% of land, inland waters, coastal zones and oceans must be effectively conserved. The target implies not only the formal designation of protected areas but also their effective management, ecological connectivity and equitable governance taking into account the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities. According to October data from Protected Planet, protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures cover about 18.7% of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems and 10% of the ocean. The marine gap is especially large: 23.09% of waters under national jurisdiction are protected, while beyond national jurisdiction it is only 1.45%. Other targets include restoring degraded ecosystems and cutting environmentally harmful subsidies by at least $500 billion per year.

Connection to the Climate Agenda

The conference in Yerevan is taking place a few weeks before the UN climate summit COP31, which will be held in Antalya (Turkey) from November 9 to 20. Although the two forums operate under different UN conventions, both are expected to emphasize the protection and restoration of ecosystems, which play a key role in limiting climate change and adapting to its consequences.