Nairobi Biodiversity Talks Set the Stage for Key COP17 Decisions

NAIROBI, Aug 18 2026, Delegates attending the final major preparatory meetings ahead of the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Yerevan, Armenia, left with a sober assessment of global efforts to protect biodiversity. Despite record levels of participation in global biodiversity reporting and planning, countries remain off track to meet the ambitious 2030 biodiversity goals set by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). The findings, presented during the 28th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-28) and the seventh meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI-7), underscored persistent gaps in implementation and highlighted urgent areas needing attention. The two meetings, held from 27 July to 1 August and 4 to 12 August respectively, served as the last major negotiation sessions before COP17, which opened on August 18. These gatherings brought together hundreds of delegates from governments, international organizations, civil society groups, and Indigenous Peoples’ representatives. Discussions focused on the first global review of the KMGBF, which assessed progress against the framework’s targets since its adoption in 2022. The review drew on an extensive array of inputs, including 172 national biodiversity targets aligned with the framework, 130 national reports on implementation, 85 National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), over 180 commitments from non-state actors, and numerous case studies from Indigenous Peoples and local communities. While the review noted positive trends in integrating the framework into national planning, the overall picture remained mixed. Progress on certain conservation-related targets showed promise, but other critical areas, such as biodiversity finance, subsidy reform, business accountability, and inclusive governance, lagged significantly. Monitoring and reporting mechanisms also faced substantial challenges, with many countries citing data gaps, financial limitations, and insufficient technical capacity as obstacles to effective progress tracking. Astrid Schomaker, executive secretary of the CBD, emphasized the need for accelerated action. “It is true that progress is being made across all targets. However, implementation is not yet happening at the pace and scale needed to achieve the KMGBF. Fewer than half of aligned national targets assessed by Parties are currently on track, with some of the largest gaps in mobilizing biodiversity finance, reforming harmful subsidies, addressing business impacts and dependencies, and shifting toward sustainable consumption,” she stated. Indigenous Peoples and local communities played a central role in the discussions, with Jennifer Tauli Corpuz of the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB) calling for increased inclusion in decision-making processes. Her remarks, delivered during the SBI meeting on August 9, highlighted the importance of traditional knowledge and community-led initiatives in achieving meaningful conservation outcomes. The meetings also addressed emerging challenges such as the impact of technology on biodiversity, the role of businesses in driving environmental degradation, and the need for stronger regulatory frameworks to ensure compliance with the KMGBF. Delegates acknowledged that while technological innovation could offer new tools for conservation, it also posed risks if not properly managed. As COP17 begins, the focus will shift to assessing collective progress under the KMGBF and identifying strategies to accelerate implementation. With the world still far from meeting its biodiversity targets, the coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether global commitments can translate into tangible results.