Almost 200 nations at the COP17 UN summit in Armenia have approved two agreements to halt biodiversity loss by 2030. Delegates cheered as the crucial texts were approved in overtime on Friday, following two weeks of tense negotiations that ran through the night.
The summit served as the first global review of the Global Biodiversity Framework agreed to in Montreal four years ago. Participants sought to revive a landmark commitment to halt and reverse the destruction of nature by 2030 after previous global efforts fell short and biodiversity goals went off track.
While governments agreed to step up efforts to protect global biodiversity and renewed their promises to protect wildlife, the process was marked by political tensions and disagreements over how to rescue the landmark deal. Despite the agreements, the finance to deliver these goals remains elusive and the question of how to cover the costs remains unanswered.