UN nature talks open as biodiversity goals fall behind

Nearly 200 nations are gathering in Armenia on Monday for UN nature talks as governments face pressure over biodiversity goals that are falling behind the pace needed for 2030.

The formal negotiations, known as COP17, follow a landmark pact in which most countries backed a goal to halt and reverse the destruction of nature by 2030. Key targets include protecting 30 percent of Earth's land and oceans.

A United Nations scorecard issued before the summit said progress toward the pact's 23 biodiversity targets is being made unevenly and not fast enough to meet the deadline. It also said efforts to close a major finance gap fall far short of what is needed.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said ahead of the talks that countries were “not yet on track as needed”. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the Yerevan summit was a moment of accountability and called for “more action, more speed and more will”.

Money is expected to be a central dispute. European and other wealthy nations that are obliged to provide biodiversity finance have pushed for large emerging economies, including China, to contribute. The talks are also expected to examine how private capital could support conservation in developing countries.

Guterres also criticised governments for continuing subsidies for fossil fuels and other extractive industries despite pledges to reform harmful incentives. The summit is expected to run for two weeks.