YEREVAN, Armenia / AfricaWire.IO / – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has emphasized the need for swift and effective international cooperation to prevent environmental degradation and the loss of biodiversity. His appeal was made at the Leaders’ Summit held in Yerevan, Armenia, on Friday, October 16. This summit preceded the 17th United Nations Biodiversity Conference, known as COP17, scheduled from October 19 to 30. Guterres warned that over one million species are now at risk of extinction.
He urged governments to boost investments in solutions aimed at conserving ecosystems. Guterres also called for increased engagement from private sector entities and local communities in conservation initiatives. The Secretary-General pointed out that climate disruption, overgrazing, and the excessive application of fertilisers and pesticides are fueling a triple planetary crisis—comprising pollution, biodiversity decline, and climate change—that pushes the planet closer to becoming uninhabitable.
Describing Yerevan as a pivotal moment of accountability on the path to 2030, Guterres noted that countries adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in 2022, aiming to conserve 30% of the world’s land and sea by the end of the decade. Nearly 90% of participating nations have established national biodiversity targets, with more than half developing national road maps. Nevertheless, he emphasized that progress remains inconsistent and too slow.
Growing Financial Disparity Between Damage and Conservation
The Secretary-General highlighted a stark imbalance in global expenditures. For every dollar allocated to protecting nature, $30 is spent on activities that harm it. In 2023, $7.3 trillion was invested in industries detrimental to the environment, including heavy industry, destructive agribusiness, and fossil fuels. Guterres called on governments to eliminate harmful subsidies and pointed to the UN-supported Cali Fund as a means for companies benefiting from nature to contribute financially.
Achieving global biodiversity, climate, and land restoration targets will require significantly increased investments. By 2030, annual spending on nature-based solutions must reach $571 billion, roughly 0.5% of global gross domestic product. Currently, biodiversity financing amounts to less than half of the $200 billion yearly commitment under the international framework. Guterres also pointed out that debt burdens and limited budgets hinder developing countries from investing adequately in nature.
Protection Goals Still Out of Reach
Existing national commitments fall significantly short of the 30% target. Even if countries fulfill their promises, only 26% of terrestrial ecosystems and 12% of marine ecosystems will be protected by 2030. Since 2022, an extra 1.3 million square kilometres of land and 6 million square kilometres of ocean have gained formal protection. Guterres urged nations to meet the 30 by 30 objective and transition from destructive policies to those that support sustainability.
He also called for wider participation from youth, civil society, women, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities. Guterres noted that environmental decline disproportionately affects the most vulnerable populations. He welcomed the Yerevan Declaration’s commitment to integrate biodiversity into national policies, budgets, and regulations. Delegates now turn their attention to COP17, where progress toward the 2030 targets will be evaluated. The Secretary-General stressed that there is no time to delay.