UN biodiversity summit opens with 2030 goals off track

The United Nations biodiversity conference opened in Yerevan on October 19, beginning a first global review of progress under the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework as governments face evidence that action remains too slow to meet its 2030 goals. The conference, known as COP17, is scheduled to run through October 30. Governments, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, scientists, businesses and other participants are gathering to assess implementation and consider ways to accelerate efforts to protect and restore nature. The framework sets 23 interconnected targets, including conserving 30% of the world’s land and oceans by 2030. The State of Biodiversity Action report says nearly 90% of parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity have established national biodiversity targets, and more than 70% have submitted national reports. It finds that fewer than half of the national targets assessed by countries are on track. The report also says action is underway across all 23 framework targets, a measure distinct from whether countries are on pace to achieve them. A draft UN review cited in reporting says countries are off track on 22 of the 23 global goals....