Global biodiversity progress review reveals nations far off track
A key UN report finds nations are falling short on 22 of 23 2030 nature targets, with minimal progress on halting species extinction and protecting land and oceans, ahead of the COP17 summit in Armenia.
Countries are meeting in Armenia this month for the first global review of progress toward the UN’s 2030 nature targets. The COP17 biodiversity summit in Yerevan runs from 19 to 30 October, assessing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework agreed in 2022.
Widespread shortfalls across biodiversity goals
A key UN report finds ambitions will not be met by 2030 unless action accelerates rapidly. Nations are falling short on 22 of 23 nature targets. The draft review shows countries are off-track on the goals set in the 2022 global biodiversity agreement.
Mixed progress on individual targets
Scores vary widely by target, from no progress on halting species extinction to strong advancement in sustainable use and trade of wild species. The report uses a scoring system from 0 to 1, where 1 represents full achievement.
| Target | Overall Score | Countries with ≥50% Elements Addressed | National Targets On Track/Achieved | Progress Toward Global Target | Countries Reporting Quantitative Data |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1: Plan and manage areas for biodiversity | 0.25 | 47% | 49% | 50% | 44% |
| 2: Restore 30% of degraded ecosystems | 0.5 | 56% | 46% | 50% | 39% |
| 3: Conserve 30% of land and sea for nature | 0.38 | 48% | 50% | 25% | 65% |
| 4: Halt human-induced species extinction | 0.25 | 70% | 36% | 0% | 68% |
| 5: Ensure sustainable use and trade of wild species | 0.67 | 60% | 42% | 83% | 33% |
| 6: Halve rate of introduction of invasive species | 0.33 | 54% | 32% | 67% | 27% |
| 7: Reduce negative impacts of pollution | 0.38 | 55% | 36% | 50% | Not specified |
Progress on halting human-induced species extinction is at zero percent toward the global target. In contrast, the sustainable use and trade of wild species is 83 percent of the way to its goal.
Land and ocean protection lagging behind 30 by 30 goal
The 30 by 30 target aims to protect 30 percent of land and oceans by 2030. Current pledges would protect only around 27 percent of land and inland waters by that deadline. For oceans, current commitments would reach just 12 percent.
The 2022 nature pact set 23 targets for halting and reversing nature loss. These include cutting pollution, protecting threatened species, and conserving 30% of the world’s land and oceans. Current pledges would reach only 27% of land and 12% of oceans if enacted in full.
Finance gaps undermine biodiversity efforts
The yearly finance goal for biodiversity is US$200 billion from public and private sources by 2030. Countries are far short of this target. A pledge of 200 billion dollars a year in biodiversity finance is lagging.
Initiatives to raise funds are struggling. The Cali Fund, launched in February 2025, aimed to raise US$1 billion a year from corporations for conservation in developing countries. It has raised only US$6,000 so far.
Subsidy reform aims to reduce nature-harmful incentives by US$500 billion a year by 2030. The financial imbalance remains stark. For every dollar invested in protecting or restoring nature, about US$30 still goes into degrading activities.
The 23 nature targets focus on restoring ecosystems, increasing nature finance, and reducing harmful subsidies. World leaders were urged to 'course correct' on protecting nature ahead of the COP17 biodiversity summit.
