Guterres urges countries to close gap between biodiversity commitments and action

The gap between countries’ ambitions and actual actions to protect biodiversity persists, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned at a press conference in Yerevan on the State of Biodiversity Action report, the first global report on collective progress in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), held ahead of COP17. 

The UN Secretary-General called for increased funding for nature conservation, the elimination of harmful incentives and subsidies, and the integration of biodiversity protection into government decision-making.

Presenting the global progress report on biodiversity, Guterres addressed the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. He recalled that the framework, agreed upon four years ago, sets out 23 targets to halt biodiversity loss and reduce pressures on natural systems.

The UN Secretary-General welcomed the fact that nearly 90% of the parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity have set national targets. Local communities, Indigenous peoples, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector are also participating in the process.

At the same time, he said, the progress recorded is still insufficient to achieve the established goals.

“The war against nature is not over yet. And we are still seeing the very serious consequences of the three global crises: climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. They are all interconnected,” Guterres noted.

He stressed that greater financial resources must be mobilized and relevant capacities developed, particularly in developing countries. Countries must fulfill their commitments, and governments must review economic incentives that harm nature.

Guterres called for an end to harmful subsidies, stronger social protection measures, and the allocation of spending to programs that deliver positive outcomes for nature. He also emphasized the importance of cooperation with businesses to establish clear commitments and identify existing opportunities.

According to the UN Secretary-General, biodiversity conservation must be taken into account in policymaking, governance, and budgetary decisions.

He also addressed the drivers of biodiversity loss: climate change, the spread of invasive alien species, pollution, and the direct exploitation of natural resources, emphasizing that combating them requires interconnected action.

Guterres stressed the importance of international cooperation and the participation of the public and private sectors, civil society, young people, women, and Indigenous peoples. He also highlighted the importance of Indigenous peoples’ traditional knowledge and experience in natural resource management.