Yerevan:Fewer than half of the national targets set to protect the world's plants, animals, and ecosystems are on track, the United Nations warns in a new report. This comes just days before countries convene for the COP17 biodiversity conference.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the report highlights that the world is falling behind the goals outlined in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which envisions 'living in harmony with nature' by 2050 and calls for urgent action by 2030. The framework's flagship aim was to protect at least 30 percent of the world's land, inland waters, coasts, and oceans by 2030. However, even if current commitments are fulfilled, only 26 percent of land and 12 percent of the ocean would be protected by that deadline.

Progress is also lagging in areas such as funding, skills, cooperation, and data, as well as economic incentives that prioritize conservation over destruction. UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized that the 'war on nature has not yet ended,' noting that the world remains entangled in crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

Despite some progress since 2022, with nearly 90 percent of countries party to the Convention on Biological Diversity setting national targets and more than 70 percent reporting on their results, a significant gap persists between ambition and action. Indigenous Peoples, local communities, regional and city authorities, charities, and businesses have made around 5,000 commitments, but substantial financial and expertise support for developing countries is needed to bridge this gap.

The report urges governments to eliminate harmful subsidies, enhance social protection, redirect spending to protect nature, and collaborate with businesses on stringent disclosure rules. Improved coordination among governments, businesses, civil society, and Indigenous Peoples is essential for strengthening accountability and cooperation. Guterres stressed the importance of integrating biodiversity into all decision-making processes across policies, regulations, and budgets, noting that nature requires more than just good intentions.