YEREVAN, Armenia / AfricaWire.IO / – Over one million species now face the threat of extinction, according to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. He emphasized the urgent need for international efforts to curb environmental degradation and halt biodiversity loss during the Leaders’ Summit in Yerevan, Armenia, on Friday, October 16. This gathering preceded the 17th United Nations Biodiversity Conference, known as COP17, scheduled from October 19 to 30.
Guterres called on governments to boost investments in ecosystem protection and urged greater engagement from private sector entities and local communities in conservation initiatives. He pointed out that climate change, overgrazing, and the overuse of fertilizers and pesticides are intensifying a triple planetary crisis—comprising pollution, biodiversity decline, and climate change—which increasingly threatens the habitability of the planet.
Describing Yerevan as a pivotal moment for accountability halfway to 2030, Guterres highlighted that nations adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in 2022, aiming to preserve 30% of the world’s land and sea by the end of this decade. Since then, nearly 90% of participating countries have established national biodiversity targets, with over half creating detailed roadmaps. Despite these efforts, he warned that progress remains inconsistent and far too sluggish.
Funding gap widens between environmental harm and protection
The UN Secretary-General underscored a stark imbalance in global expenditure: for every dollar allocated to conservation, $30 is spent on activities that harm nature. In 2023, industries damaging the environment received $7.3 trillion, including sectors like heavy industry, destructive agriculture, and fossil fuels. Guterres called on governments to eliminate harmful subsidies and suggested that the UN-supported Cali Fund provides a platform for companies benefiting from natural resources to contribute financially.
Achieving global biodiversity, climate, and land restoration targets will require significantly increased investment. To meet these objectives by 2030, annual spending on nature-based solutions must reach $571 billion—about 0.5% of the global gross domestic product. Currently, biodiversity financing amounts to less than half of the $200 billion annually stipulated in the global framework. Guterres also highlighted that debt burdens and limited budgets hinder developing countries from investing adequately in nature.
Protection goals remain difficult to attain
Current national commitments fall significantly short of the 30% protection target. Even if countries honor their pledges, only 26% of terrestrial and 12% of marine ecosystems would be safeguarded by 2030. Since 2022, an additional 1.3 million square kilometres of land and 6 million square kilometres of ocean have been formally protected. Guterres urged nations to fulfill the 30 by 30 objective and to move away from policies that destroy rather than sustain nature.
He also emphasized the importance of involving youth, civil society, women, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities in conservation efforts. Recognizing that environmental decline often impacts the most vulnerable populations hardest, Guterres welcomed the Yerevan Declaration’s commitment to integrating biodiversity into national policies, budgets, and regulations. As delegations prepare for COP17, where progress toward the 2030 goals will be assessed, the Secretary-General stressed that there is no time to delay.