Ahead of COP17, most national biodiversity targets are falling behind

Ahead of the COP17 conference in Yerevan, the UN reported on 15 October that fewer than half of assessed national targets to protect species and ecosystems are on track. The finding draws on the Convention on Biological Diversity’s global review of progress under the Kunming–Montreal framework.

The review is about whether governments are meeting their 2030 commitments, not a count of species lost in a single year. Adopting a plan does not itself restore a forest, river or population. The assessment draws on national reports, action plans and targets submitted by countries.

For Kazakhstan and every other party, the practical test is measurable change: the condition of protected areas and waters, pressure on species and adequate funding. COP17 offers a chance to compare the national evidence and speed up lagging work. The ‘fewer than half’ figure is a warning about implementation, not a verdict that conservation efforts have no value.

Source: https://www.cbd.int/globalreview