Governments are reportedly failing to meet biodiversity targets agreed upon almost four years ago at the Cop15 summit in Montreal, Canada. A pre-Cop17 report indicates that collective progress is off track for all 23 targets, with a traffic-light system rating actions as predominantly yellow, orange, and red.
The Cop15 agreement, backed by almost every country except the US and the Vatican, included goals to protect 30% of the planet for nature, restore 30% of degraded ecosystems, and address $500bn in environmentally damaging subsidies. However, the pre-Cop17 report states that "Unless collective implementation accelerates rapidly, the 2030 targets and mission will not be achieved."
Zac Goldsmith, who was UK environment minister when the Cop15 deal was reached, noted a "massive gap between countries agreeing to do something and actually doing it." The upcoming Cop17 summit in Yerevan, Armenia, will assess progress towards these targets.