More than half of the world’s nations have now released updated pledges addressing nature loss, marking progress toward a landmark 2022 biodiversity agreement. The submissions come significantly behind schedule, with countries initially asked to deliver their national biodiversity strategies and action plans by the start of the COP16 summit in October 2024. When only 15% met that deadline, nations agreed to a revised timeline requesting the documents be released “as soon as possible.”
Carbon Brief analysis indicates that 113 out of 196 countries have now submitted updated plans, compared to 55 nations a year earlier. The increase reflects growing momentum across multiple regions, particularly among African nations. Countries releasing new pledges in the past year include Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Egypt, Rwanda, and numerous others across the continent. Brazil, which contains the world’s greatest biodiversity, along with Chile and Belize, have also submitted updated plans. Armenia, the host nation for the upcoming COP17 summit, published its pledge in April.
The submissions are tied to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, an agreement adopted in 2022 aimed at reversing nature decline by 2030. COP17, convening next week in Yerevan, represents the midway point for evaluating progress on the framework’s 23 targets. The summit will feature the first global review of countries’ achievements toward these goals, which encompass ecosystem restoration, climate action, and financial support for developing nations.
Several major biodiversity-rich nations have not yet submitted updated pledges, including Papua New Guinea, Peru, South Africa, and the United States. Russia has similarly not produced a new plan. The US remains the only UN member country that has not ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Developing countries have cited inadequate funding as a barrier to completing their pledges. The Global Environment Facility reported that 120 out of 139 developing nations requesting financial assistance since COP16 received support, with efforts underway to help the remaining 19 access funds. Additionally, 89% of countries have now submitted national targets, and 73% have completed their required national reports.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI