According to a draft report from the UN Convention on Biological Diversity published on 26 July, the world is not on track to meet the nature conservation goals established under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The framework, adopted by nearly all countries in 2022, encompasses 23 targets designed to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and achieve harmony with nature by 2050. The assessment finds that while countries have taken some action on all 23 targets, only one presents a fully positive picture of progress.
The report identifies two primary obstacles to achieving the 2030 goals. First, national targets and plans submitted by countries do not fully reflect the ambition level of the global framework targets. Second, implementation remains insufficient across most areas. The report notes particularly weak progress on addressing indirect drivers of biodiversity loss, such as harmful business practices and government subsidies. Additionally, countries show consistent gaps in protecting marine, coastal, and inland water ecosystems.
Financial and technical constraints are compounding the challenges, especially for developing nations. The report indicates that countries report gaps in the timely provision of financial resources, capacity-building, technology transfer, and knowledge sharing. These limitations are described as particularly pressing for least developed countries and small island developing states.
The assessment includes a scorecard rating progress on each of the 23 targets on a scale from 0 to 1, with only target 8—on minimizing climate change impacts on biodiversity—receiving a positive overall score. Target 3, known as “30 by 30,” which calls for protecting 30 percent of Earth’s land and sea by the end of the decade, is considered the flagship commitment. While countries are making progress on expanding protected areas, current efforts remain insufficient to fully achieve all aspects of the target.
The second draft of the report underwent peer review before publication and will undergo final technical edits prior to COP17, the next nature summit scheduled for October in Armenia.
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