Four years after the promises of Cop15, our biodiversity targets are slipping away
Four years after the Cop15 biodiversity summit, global progress toward halting ecosystem destruction is failing. As delegates prepare for Cop17 in Armenia, experts warn that the ambitious 2030 targets are increasingly unlikely to be met.
Why it matters
Biodiversity loss poses an existential threat to global food security and climate stability, making the failure of international agreements a critical concern.
The optimism of Cop15 has faded in recent years. Photograph: IISD The optimism of Cop15 has faded in recent years. Photograph: IISD Down to Earth newsletter Environment Four years after the promises of Cop15, our biodiversity targets are slipping away The world pledged to halt biodiversity loss by 2030, but as Cop17 delegates meet in Armenia next week the outlook is bleak and optimism has faded
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Patrick Greenfield Fri 16 Oct 2026 07.00 BST Last modified on Fri 16 Oct 2026 07.02 BST Share Prefer the Guardian on Google The world has lost its way on nature once again. Next week, biodiversity Cop17 begins in Yerevan, Armenia, and expectations are low. Very low.
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