World far from 2030 biodiversity goals, CBD warns ahead of COP17

By Samuel Ogunsona

The World is far away from meeting the United Nations set goals on bio-diversity.

The parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity admitted the world is not on track to meet the 2030 targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

This is despite progress in recent negotiations.

The warning is coming ahead the Conference of Parties, [COP] summit.

Irohinodua reports that nearly three weeks of talks in Nairobi from 27 July to 12 August were aimed at closing gaps before the decisive UN Biodiversity Conference, COP 17, scheduled for 19 to 30 October 2026 in Yerevan, Armenia.

The Nairobi meetings included SBSTTA-28 on scientific and technical issues and SBI-7 on implementation, finance and capacity-building. Parties reached consensus on protected areas, sustainable wildlife management, synthetic biology and marine conservation.

They also advanced recommendations on resource mobilisation and biodiversity mainstreaming.

A key focus was the first “State of Biodiversity Action” report, based on submissions from 130 Parties and national targets from 172 Parties. The report shows progress on conservation, but slow movement on the means of implementation.

“Implementation is not yet happening at the pace and scale needed to achieve the KMGBF. Fewer than half of aligned national targets assessed by Parties are currently on track, with some of the largest gaps in mobilising biodiversity finance, reforming harmful subsidies, addressing business impacts and dependencies, and shifting toward sustainable consumption,” said Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the CBD.

She added that the upcoming summit in Yerevan will be critical.

“I think that we can all leave Nairobi with a sense of satisfaction at what we have accomplished here, but the task awaiting us in Yerevan in nine weeks will take all the stamina and determination that Parties can summon,” Schomaker said.

“When Parties convene in October for COP 17 and the meetings of the Cartagena and Nagoya Protocols, we will need strong agreement on pathways for addressing the gaps identified in the global report so that we can stay on track to achieve the goals and targets of the Global Biodiversity Framework.”

Differences remain on how to accelerate action, including on the governance of the Cali Fund, which is expected to mobilize private sector contributions for nature.

The findings from Nairobi, along with recommendations from both subsidiary bodies, will form the basis for the first global review of collective progress at COP 17 in Yerevan.