CBD COP17: Addressing the biodiversity financing gap

With the 17th COP of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 17) just five months away, the European Commission convened a pivotal meeting in Brussels today (21 May) to address the most critical hurdle facing global conservation: bridging the €37 billion annual biodiversity funding gap.

The event, 'Private Biodiversity Financing - From Policy to Portfolio: Unlocking Capital for Nature through Innovative Mechanisms', centred on the stark reality that public financing is under severe pressure.

Halting and reversing ecosystem decline will require an all-hands-on-deck approach, and rapidly scaling innovative financial mechanisms to unlock private investment alongside domestic and international public funds will be key.

Innovative financing mechanisms

Around 140 policymakers, financial institutions, and private-sector leaders gathered at the event to explore this, primarily how to scale private investment in biodiversity. The participants shared practical pathways for innovative financing and discussed translating ecosystem dependencies into credible, decision-useful metrics for portfolio management.

Particular attention was given to nature credits and the ongoing implementation of the Roadmap Towards Nature Credits. By bringing together all these actors, the event strengthened the collaboration needed to drive biodiversity finance and achieve the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

The February IPBES Business and Biodiversity Assessment also came into focus, highlighting that corporate and financial leaders hold immense power to restore nature. However, it issues a clear call to action, demanding that governments establish the robust legal frameworks required to mobilise this capital safely and effectively.

As preparations for CBD COP17 intensify, the EU continues to play a crucial role in supporting the implementation of the GBF and advancing innovative financing mechanisms, such as nature credits.

Background

The CBD, which is one of the three so-called Rio Conventions, entered into force on 29 December 1993. It has three main objectives:

• Conservation of biological diversity
• Sustainable use of the components of biological diversity
• Fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources

COP17 will convene from 19 to 30 October in Yerevan, Armenia.

The summit will centre on tracking progress toward the Kunming-Montreal GBF. Adopted at COP15 in December 2022, the GBF outlines an ambitious roadmap to achieve a global vision of living in harmony with nature by 2050. The framework establishes four overarching goals for 2050 and 23 specific targets to be met by 2030, directly supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Through the GBF, CBD Parties committed to generating the necessary investments: €200 billion per year by 2030, from all sources.

The EU has fully embraced the GBF and defined 45 targets for its implementation. This encompasses the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and other relevant policies aimed at halting and reversing ecosystem decline.

The Commission also adopted the Roadmap Towards Nature Credits in 2025, which will guide its work towards a possible new source of financing nature conservation and nature restoration.

For implementation, see the 7th National Report submitted to the CBD in February 2026.

More information

Global biodiversity | European Commission

EU delivering on biodiversity ahead of CBD COP17 | European Commission