UN Secretary-General warns of disproportionate spending harming nature

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that global financial priorities are misaligned with conservation needs. Speaking in Yerevan, Armenia, during a summit prior to the COP17 biodiversity conference, Guterres stated that for every dollar invested in protecting nature, 30 dollars are spent on activities that damage ecosystems.

In 2023, approximately 7.3 trillion dollars were directed toward sectors harmful to the environment, including polluting industrial activities, destructive agro-industrial practices, and fossil fuels. Guterres called on governments and corporations to eliminate these harmful subsidies and redirect those resources toward ecosystem preservation and human benefit.

International discussions emphasize that while protected areas have expanded, global commitments remain insufficient to meet 2030 conservation goals. Experts stress that biodiversity protection must move beyond international agreements to practical, verifiable actions on the ground to address the threat to over one million species currently facing extinction.