A global biodiversity finance estimate of $74.9 billion to $92.4 billion a year underscores a central COP17 funding debate, as former Canadian environment minister Steven Guilbeault urges ministers to adopt a timetable with an interim milestone for 2030 goals.
In an Oct. 20 essay for The Guardian, Guilbeault argued that wars and strained public budgets should not delay biodiversity action. He said financing conservation in other countries can help support stable food imports, and that the 2025 goal of $20 billion in annual international finance was missed.
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted in 2022, sets a goal of at least $30 billion a year by 2030 in international biodiversity-related finance from developed countries and other specified contributors to developing countries and economies in transition. Separate goals call for at least $200 billion annually from all sources and a reduction of at least $500 billion a year in incentives harmful to biodiversity.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development estimated global biodiversity finance averaged $74.9 billion to $92.4 billion annually during 2023-25. Its estimate combines public and private funding from domestic and international sources, a broader pool than the framework’s $30 billion international-finance goal.
Guilbeault also proposed that finance ministers meet within two years to set out a plan for addressing harmful subsidies. He wants ministers to prepare an action plan to close the gap between land and marine protection.
Governments at COP17 are conducting the framework’s first global review. The Convention on Biological Diversity’s review of national reports found that most targets assessed by governments were not reported as on track. It identified harmful incentives and action beyond environment ministries among the areas where progress was lagging.
COP17 in Yerevan runs through Oct. 30. Its ministerial segment is scheduled for Oct. 27-28.
