In recent years, global efforts to halt the decline of biodiversity have faced significant challenges, with many countries falling short of commitments made under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The convention, established in 1992 alongside agreements on climate change and desertification, sets out to conserve the natural world, promote its sustainable use, and ensure fair sharing of genetic resource benefits. This year’s COP17 summit in Yerevan, Armenia, convened nearly every country to review progress on ambitious targets agreed upon in 2022.

Among the central goals of the pact are the protection of 30% of the world’s land and sea areas (known as "30x30"), restoration of 30% of degraded ecosystems, and reforming at least $500 billion in subsidies that contribute to environmental harm. Yet, a consensus has emerged that most targets are unlikely to be met by the 2030 deadline. According to estimates, governments are nearing the goal of terrestrial protected areas, declaring 27.5% of land for conservation, while ocean and ecosystem restoration targets remain lagging. Action to repurpose harmful subsidies, which include financial support for fossil fuels and activities causing deforestation, has been minimal.

Experts point to several obstacles impeding progress. Funding shortfalls are paramount: key contributors such as the United States, whose USAID funding was sharply reduced in recent years, are not formal signatories to the convention, limiting their direct engagement. The United Kingdom and several European countries have also trimmed their international conservation aid budgets. Developing nations emphasize the need for increased resources to achieve conservation ambitions. The private sector has largely failed to fill the gap, with initiatives like the Cali Fund—established to mobilize private company contributions—receiving minimal investment since its 2025 launch.

At a more localized level, signs of environmental degradation continue to raise concerns. For example, in August, more than 3,000 fish, including pike and carp, died along the River Wensum in Norfolk, England, as a result of low oxygen levels exacerbated by heatwaves and pollution flushed into the chalk river by heavy rainfall. This river is one of approximately 250 chalk rivers in England, representing a rare and valuable habitat supporting species such as freshwater shrimp and otters. Despite being legally protected, the River Wensum suffers from poor ecological health. NGOs have criticized recent policy decisions in the UK, including weakened biodiversity net gain regulations, reductions in rainforest protection funding, and a refusal to ban bottom trawling in marine protected areas. No new Sites of Special Scientific Interest have been designated since 2023 to better safeguard wildlife.

Government officials have highlighted ongoing investments in nature recovery and climate resilience, citing a £7 billion fund aimed at tackling water pollution and supporting species recovery, as well as efforts to maintain international conservation programs. However, conservation groups warn that without concrete domestic action to meet international commitments, urging other countries to meet biodiversity goals risks appearing inconsistent or ineffective.

The COP17 meeting serves as a critical juncture for the global community to reconcile ambitious biodiversity targets with the realities of political will, financial constraints, and competing priorities. While some progress has been made, experts caution that the scale and complexity of issues on the agenda may hinder timely and comprehensive action to reverse biodiversity loss this decade.