Nairobi meetings 2026: Draft report indicates slow progress towards meeting biodiversity targets
A draft global assessment prepared ahead of the 2026 Nairobi meetings under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) finds that current efforts are insufficient to achieve the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework's 23 targets by 2030
Only Target 8, relating to climate resilience of biodiversity, shows on-track progress, though even this pace is assessed as insufficient to minimise climate change impacts on ecosystems
Target 19, the framework's central financing goal, is found to be lagging severely, alongside slow progress on mainstreaming biodiversity into economic planning
The assessment draws on 129 national reports, 160 national targets, 80 National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), and submissions from Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities
The findings feed into two subsidiary-body meetings in Nairobi: SBSTTA-28 (July 27-August 1, 2026) on scientific and technical matters, and SBI-7 (August 4-12, 2026) on implementation
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)
The Kunming-Montreal GBF was adopted by 196 parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity at COP15 in December 2022, replacing the earlier Aichi Targets (2010-2020), most of which were missed. It sets four long-term goals for 2050 and 23 action-oriented targets for 2030, including the widely cited "30x30" target to conserve 30% of land, inland waters, and marine areas by 2030 (Target 3).
Key Details
- Adopted at CBD COP15, Montreal, December 2022; negotiations began in Kunming, China (hence the name)
- 4 goals for 2050, 23 targets for 2030
- Target 3: conserve at least 30% of terrestrial, inland water, and marine/coastal areas by 2030 ("30x30")
- Target 8: minimise the impact of climate change on biodiversity through mitigation, adaptation, and disaster risk reduction actions
- Each party is required to submit a revised National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) aligned with the GBF; India submitted its updated NBSAP under this process
The draft report evaluated in Nairobi assesses progress against precisely these 23 targets, and its finding that only Target 8 is on track signals that the world is falling behind on the framework's central 2030 commitments, including 30x30.
Target 19 — Biodiversity Finance Gap
Target 19 of the GBF calls for mobilising at least USD 200 billion per year by 2030 from all sources (public, private, domestic, international) to close the global biodiversity financing gap, alongside a sub-target for developed countries to provide at least USD 20 billion annually to developing countries by 2025, rising to USD 30 billion annually by 2030.
Key Details
- Overall target: at least USD 200 billion/year by 2030 for biodiversity from all sources
- Developed-to-developing country finance flow sub-targets: USD 20 billion/year by 2025, USD 30 billion/year by 2030
- Financing mechanisms include the Global Environment Facility (GEF)-administered Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (GBFF), established in 2023
- Target 19 also calls for phasing out or reforming subsidies harmful to biodiversity, estimated at over USD 500 billion/year globally
The assessment's finding that financing is "lagging badly" refers directly to the shortfall against Target 19's USD 200 billion goal, which remains the single biggest bottleneck to implementing the rest of the framework.
CBD Subsidiary Bodies — SBSTTA and SBI
The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the CBD's governing body, assisted by subsidiary bodies that prepare technical and implementation groundwork between COPs: the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA, established under Article 25 of the Convention) and the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI, established in 2014 by COP Decision XII/26, replacing the earlier Ad Hoc Working Group on Review of Implementation).
Key Details
- SBSTTA (Article 25 of the CBD): provides scientific/technical assessments on biodiversity status and measures; reports to the COP
- SBI: reviews progress in implementation, resource mobilisation, capacity-building, and operations of the Convention and its Protocols (Cartagena and Nagoya)
- Nairobi 2026: SBSTTA-28 (July 27-August 1) covers marine biodiversity, protected areas, synthetic biology, and wildlife management; SBI-7 (August 4-12) covers resource mobilisation and implementation
The draft assessment is being tabled at exactly this SBSTTA-SBI sequence, which is the standard institutional pathway through which CBD parties review GBF progress ahead of the next COP.
- Kunming-Montreal GBF: adopted COP15, December 2022; 4 goals (2050), 23 targets (2030)
- Only Target 8 (climate resilience) assessed as on-track; Target 19 (finance) lagging severely
- Target 19 goal: USD 200 billion/year by 2030 from all sources; USD 20 billion/year (2025) and USD 30 billion/year (2030) from developed to developing countries
- Assessment based on 129 national reports, 160 national targets, 80 NBSAPs
- SBSTTA-28: July 27-August 1, 2026; SBI-7: August 4-12, 2026, both in Nairobi
- SBI established 2014 (COP Decision XII/26); SBSTTA established under CBD Article 25 (Convention adopted 1992, entered into force 1993)