UN Secretary‑General Calls for Faster Biodiversity Action
Guterres urges governments to accelerate protection and financing to meet 30‑by‑30 targets.
Key facts
- Guterres urged acceleration of biodiversity protection at Yerevan Leaders’ Summit.
- Since 2022, 1.3 million km² of land and 6 million km² of ocean have been formally protected.
- Only 26% of terrestrial and 12% of marine ecosystems would be protected by 2030 under current commitments.
- Biodiversity financing is less than half of the $200 billion agreed under the Global Biodiversity Framework.
- In 2023, $7.3 trillion flowed into nature‑negative industries.
Guterres spoke in Yerevan ahead of COP17, highlighting climate disruption, overgrazing, fertilisers and pesticides as drivers of biodiversity loss. He warned that more than a million species face extinction risk.
He cited the Kunming‑Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, noting that 90% of parties have set national targets and half have developed road maps. Since 2022, 1.3 million km² of land and 6 million km² of ocean have been protected.
He said progress is uneven; only 26% of terrestrial and 12% of marine ecosystems would be protected by 2030, falling short of the 30% goal. He urged policy shifts toward zero‑waste, circular economies and regenerative agriculture.
He stressed finance gaps, noting that biodiversity financing is less than half of the $200 billion agreed. He said $7.3 trillion was spent on nature‑negative industries in 2023. He urged governments to redirect savings to nature.
He emphasized that biodiversity, conflict, food insecurity, disease and climate are linked. He welcomed the Yerevan Declaration and its commitment to integrate biodiversity into policies. He called for annual investment of $571 billion by 2030 for nature‑based solutions.
Context
The UN is preparing for COP17, a biodiversity conference, to advance the Global Biodiversity Framework. The Framework aims to conserve 30% of land and sea by 2030. The Secretary‑General is urging action to meet these targets.
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