The conference will conduct the first global review of biodiversity targets for 2030, focusing on implementation, financing, and corporate participation.
The 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, COP17 on Biodiversity, begins this Monday, October 19, in Yerevan, Armenia. Until the 30th, representatives from governments, businesses, international organizations, academia, civil society, indigenous peoples, and local communities will be meeting to assess progress in nature protection and define how to accelerate actions by 2030.
The meeting takes place at a crucial moment. COP17 will conduct the first global review of progress in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, an agreement adopted in 2022 that established four long-term goals for 2050 and 23 action targets for this decade.
CEBDS will be present at the conference, representing the Brazilian business sector and participating in discussions on biodiversity financing, implementation of global goals, and the role of companies in the nature agenda.
What is COP17 on Biodiversity?
COP17 is the main decision-making body of the Convention on Biological Diversity, an international treaty focused on the conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources.
The 2026 edition has the motto "Taking Action for Nature" and will be held in conjunction with the meetings of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on biosafety and the Nagoya Protocol on access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing.
More than negotiating new commitments, the conference will have the mission of verifying whether the decisions already made are producing results and what changes will be necessary to meet the 2030 goals.
The world is still far from its 2030 goals.
Released on the eve of the conference, the report State of Biodiversity Action This presents the first global assessment of progress under the Kunming-Montreal Framework. The document indicates that nearly 90% of the 196 countries that are part of the Convention have established national biodiversity targets. However, less than half of the targets assessed by the countries themselves are on track.
The survey also shows that around 601 PT3s of the Parties have developed national biodiversity strategies and plans, and more than 701 PT3s have submitted national reports. Although the numbers indicate greater mobilization, there are still significant gaps in implementation, funding, data, and coordination between governments and economic sectors.
Among the points that require greater attention are precisely those that depend on actions beyond the Ministries of the Environment, such as the involvement of companies, sustainable consumption, the review of incentives that are harmful to nature, and the mobilization of financial resources.
Financing will be one of the central themes.
Transforming international goals into the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of biodiversity requires public and private resources on a scale commensurate with the challenge.
The Global Framework calls for the mobilization of at least US$$ 200 billion per year for biodiversity by 2030. The Convention's most recent assessment acknowledges progress in public funding, but points out that private resources remain underdeveloped.
At COP17, the debate should involve both increasing the volume of resources and creating conditions to direct them towards projects with measurable environmental and social results. For the business sector, this agenda is related to risk management, innovation, the bioeconomy, and the development of solutions capable of reconciling conservation and economic activity.
Why does COP17 matter for companies?
Biodiversity underpins essential production chains and ecosystem services, such as water availability, soil fertility, pollination, climate regulation, and the supply of raw materials. The degradation of these systems can generate operational, financial, regulatory, and reputational risks for companies in various sectors.
Target 15 of the Kunming-Montreal Framework reinforces this relationship by providing measures for companies and financial institutions to monitor, assess, and disclose their risks, dependencies, and impacts on biodiversity, considering operations, value chains, and portfolios.
Despite the increase in corporate reporting in recent years, global assessments indicate that two-thirds of national targets related to businesses and financial institutions show no or insufficient progress. COP17 will therefore be an important forum to discuss how to align commitments, public policies, financial instruments, and business practices.
For Brazil, one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, advancing this agenda also represents an opportunity to value its natural advantages, expand investments in conservation and restoration, and strengthen business models based on the sustainable use of biodiversity.
Regarding CEBDS and COP17
Founded in 1997, the Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS) is a non-profit civil association that works to connect businesses, governments, and civil society to promote sustainable development in Brazil. Its activities cover topics such as climate, energy, sustainable finance, biodiversity, socio-bioeconomy, agri-food systems, social impact, water, and the circular economy.
CEBDS's participation in COP17 aims to bring the perspective of the Brazilian business sector to international debates and to monitor decisions that may influence public policies, corporate strategies, financing mechanisms, and transparency criteria related to environmental impact.
Throughout the conference, CEBDS will be covering the main debates, initiatives, and advancements in the global biodiversity agenda. Coverage can be followed on the organization's website and social media channels.
