World lagging on key UN biodiversity targets

World governments are off track to meet a historic United Nations target to protect at least 30% of the planet's land and seas by the year 2030, according to a new study published Wednesday.

The research by environmental groups Campaign for Nature and Together for the Ocean shows that about 20% of land and inland waters are designated as protected or conserved, following the signing of the 30×30 goal in 2022.

If nations fully deliver on existing quantified commitments, the estimate could increase to 27% by the turn of the decade, the report said.

The 30x30 goal was adopted under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework at COP15 and was signed by nearly 200 nations that pledged at least $200 billion (about €175 billion) annually to reduce biodiversity loss.

For the world's oceans , the study says protection is "lagging."

The coverage is currently at 10% of global ocean and could only reach 12% by 2030, the research revealed.

"The ocean is emerging as one of the defining implementation challenges of 30×30," Together for the Ocean said, adding that important marine ecosystems, like offshore and deep-sea habitats, remain "vulnerable."

Last month, the Convention on Biological Diversity, the UN treaty dedicated to the global nature goals, also cautioned that countries were not on track.