Global biodiversity action requires urgent acceleration at COP17

Researchers from the University of Oxford and WWF have released a paper in Conservation Letters warning that current progress toward the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is insufficient. As governments convene for COP17, the authors emphasize that biodiversity continues to decline, increasing the risk of irreversible ecological tipping points.

The report identifies four priorities to move from commitments to effective action, including the need for independent tracking of outcomes rather than just policy commitments.

Simultaneously, over 70 organizations—including members of UNEP FI and various conservation groups—have joined a global Call to Action on High-Integrity Nature Markets. This initiative urges governments to establish regulatory frameworks that mobilize private investment for biodiversity protection and restoration. Proponents argue that high-integrity markets can help mitigate the systemic economic risks posed by ecosystem degradation, which could cost the global economy up to US $430 billion annually.