World · Europe · 1 hr ago
Nearly 200 countries approve biodiversity agreements at COP17
Nearly 200 countries approved agreements at the UN COP17 biodiversity summit in Yerevan, Armenia, after almost two weeks of negotiations.
The talks focused on how to speed action to halt nature loss by 2030.
Countries made that pledge in the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which includes 23 commitments.
Before the summit, the UN warned that countries were falling behind on nearly all of them, including the goal to protect 30% of land and oceans by 2030.
Negotiators disagreed over harmful subsidies, including support for fossil fuels, and over how to pay for conservation.
The world needs about $700 billion more each year than it currently spends to restore ecosystems and protect species and habitats.
Details of the newly approved documents were not immediately available, so the next test is whether countries turn the agreements into action.
Nearly 200 countries adopted agreements at the COP17 biodiversity summit in Yerevan, Armenia, on Friday, October 30.
The agreements followed two weeks of tense negotiations and aim to put global efforts to halt nature loss by 2030 back on track.
Countries acknowledged they are falling behind the biodiversity targets adopted in 2022.
Disputes included harmful subsidies, conservation funding and the role of businesses in financing environmental protection.
Ecuador was chosen to host the next UN biodiversity summit, COP18, in 2028.
- Who
- Nearly 200 countries taking part in the UN biodiversity summit.
- What
- They adopted agreements intended to get efforts to halt nature loss by 2030 back on track.
- When
- Friday, October 30, after two weeks of negotiations.
- Where
- Yerevan, Armenia.
- Why
- To advance action on the 2022 biodiversity pact and address delays in meeting its goals.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Countries adopted the Global Biodiversity Framework, setting targets to halt biodiversity loss by 2030.
The Cali Fund launched with a goal of raising $1 billion a year for conservation in developing countries.
Nearly 200 countries adopted agreements at COP17 after two weeks of negotiations.
Ecuador is set to host COP18, the next UN biodiversity summit.
- Participants
- Nearly 200 countries
- Summit location
- Yerevan, Armenia
- Biodiversity target
- Halt nature loss by 2030
- Protection target
- 30% of Earth's land and oceans
- Annual conservation funding gap
- $700 billion
- Next summit
- COP18 in Ecuador in 2028
4 sources
Casi 200 países adoptan nuevos acuerdos en la COP17 de la ONU para frenar pérdida de biodiversidad
Global nature talks reach deal but money remains an issue
COP17 on biodiversity: Nations agree on push to get nature goals back on track
Schwierige Verhandlungen: Weltnaturkonferenz: Staaten einigen sich auf zentrale Themen
What people are saying
And that's it. Perfect.
While not particularly exciting or detailed, it's good news that countries could reach agreement
Even though the agreed decision text expresses it in weak terms, COP17 saw important political momentum to address harmful financial incentives – including subsidies – and that's urgently needed