CBD COP17 in Yerevan: First Global Review Finds the World Off Track on Biodiversity Goals
The 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was held in Yerevan, Armenia. It ended on 31 October 2026, one day late, after more than two weeks of talks, without any major breakthrough.
Its main job was the first global review of progress on the 23 targets for 2030 under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
A UN Secretary-General report released on 15 October 2026 found that almost 90% of countries have set national biodiversity targets, nearly 60% have made national biodiversity plans (NBSAPs) and over 70% have sent national reports. But fewer than half of the national targets checked are on track.
The world is on course to meet only one of the 23 targets by 2030: Target 8, on reducing the impact of climate change on biodiversity. Progress on the "30x30" target (protecting 30% of land and sea) is poor.
The final review says the goals will be missed unless action is "rapidly accelerated". It sets out the "Yerevan Pathway", a list of priorities up to 2030: phasing out subsidies that harm nature, more money and technical help for developing countries, aligning national budgets with the KMGBF, and stronger monitoring and reporting.
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF or GBF) is the world's main plan to stop and reverse the loss of nature. Countries that are part of the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted it in December 2022 at COP15 in Montreal, Canada (the meeting was led by China, hence "Kunming"). It sets 4 long-term goals for 2050 and 23 targets for 2030. Countries put it into action through their own national plans.
COP17's review was the first official check on how the world is doing on the KMGBF. Its finding that only Target 8 is on track, and the Yerevan Pathway's focus on harmful subsidies and finance, show that the 2030 targets are at serious risk.
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is the main world treaty for protecting the variety of life on Earth. It was opened for signature at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and came into force on 29 December 1993. It has three goals: conserve biodiversity, use it sustainably, and share the benefits from genetic resources fairly. Its member countries ("Parties") meet every two years at a Conference of the Parties (COP).
COP17 was the regular two-yearly meeting of CBD Parties. Its main job this time was to review how far countries have got on the KMGBF targets agreed under the CBD.
Environmentally Harmful Subsidies
Environmentally harmful subsidies are government support that makes it cheaper or more profitable to do things that damage nature. Examples are money that makes fishing boats' fuel cheaper so they catch too many fish, or very cheap fertiliser that farmers overuse until the soil and water are poisoned. Most of these subsidies were created for good reasons, like helping farmers or keeping fuel cheap. But as a side effect, they push people to pollute, overuse resources and destroy habitats. Under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, countries have promised to cut such subsidies by at least US$500 billion a year by 2030.
The Yerevan Pathway agreed at COP17 puts phasing out subsidies and incentives that harm nature at the top of its list of priorities to 2030. The review showed that most countries missed Target 18's 2025 deadline to identify such subsidies, so reform must now speed up sharply if the US$500 billion goal is to be met.
- CBD COP17: Yerevan, Armenia; ended 31 October 2026 (one day late)
- COP17 President: Hambardzum Matevosyan, Environment Minister of Armenia
- First global review of the KMGBF (adopted December 2022: 4 goals for 2050, 23 targets for 2030)
- About 90% of Parties have national targets; nearly 60% have updated NBSAPs; over 70% have sent national reports
- Fewer than half of assessed national targets are on track
- Only Target 8 (climate impacts and resilience) is on course for 2030
- UN Secretary-General's "State of Biodiversity Action" report released 15 October 2026
- Yerevan Pathway priorities: end harmful subsidies, more support for developing countries, align national budgets, stronger monitoring and reporting
- CBD: 1992 Rio Earth Summit; in force 29 December 1993; 196 Parties; COP every two years