Representatives from nearly 200 countries have convened in Yerevan, Armenia, to assess global progress toward biodiversity protection under the framework established by the United Nations. The meeting comes as the world approaches the halfway mark to a 2030 deadline for fulfilling commitments made in the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a landmark agreement aimed at halting and reversing nature loss.
Delegates are focused on identifying obstacles that have slowed progress and exploring strategies to accelerate action. The framework includes 23 targets designed to conserve biodiversity by protecting 30 percent of global land, inland waters, and oceans—a goal commonly referred to as 30x30—as well as to promote sustainable agriculture and curb over-harvesting of wild species.
Despite some advancements, a recent report released by the UN body overseeing the treaty indicates that current efforts remain insufficient to meet the 2030 objectives. António Guterres, outgoing UN secretary-general, emphasized the gap between intentions and necessary actions, noting that while nearly 90 percent of participating countries have set national targets aligned with the global framework, tangible progress is lagging.
The report highlights significant regional disparities in preparedness and planning, with more comprehensive strategies reported from countries in Africa, Western Europe, Latin America, and Asia, compared to less engagement from Eastern Europe, the Caribbean, and Pacific island states. Furthermore, the largest shortfalls relate to integrating biodiversity goals with economic policies, particularly the need to reduce environmentally harmful subsidies and increase incentives for conservation.
Financial data from 2023 underscores the scale of the challenge: approximately $2.4 trillion in public funds still support activities detrimental to the environment. Redirecting these subsidies toward sustainable practices is seen as critical by experts, yet only 39 percent of countries have met their target to identify and address such subsidies by 2025.
On the key 30x30 target, the report finds the world off course, though advocacy groups and scientists maintain that the goal remains attainable. Analysis by the Campaign for Nature suggests that if existing national proposals were enacted, about 27 percent of terrestrial and freshwater areas would gain protection, but only around 13 percent of ocean areas would be safeguarded. Ecologists also stress that the effectiveness of conservation depends on the strategic location of protected zones, not just the overall percentage.
The global process faces challenges, including perceptions of inefficiency and weak enforcement mechanisms. However, experts assert that multilateral negotiations remain the best available vehicle for coordinating large-scale responses to biodiversity loss.
Notably, the United States, along with the Vatican, remains outside the formal treaty. Although the U.S. typically participates through observer delegations, its current representation in Yerevan is smaller than in previous meetings. A State Department statement said U.S. delegates planned to advocate for “voluntary, responsible conservation efforts that drive economic growth.” The United States had previously pursued a national 30x30 conservation initiative under the Biden administration, which was rescinded by President Trump upon taking office in 2025.
Among subnational participants, California stands out as a biodiversity hotspot with an active 30x30 program at the state level. Wade Crowfoot, California’s secretary for natural resources, expressed strong commitment to both local and global biodiversity preservation efforts during the conference.
As the conference progresses, countries face mounting pressure to translate international promises into concrete policies and actions that can curb the accelerating decline of the planet’s ecosystems and species.