Nations agree to funding plan agreed to reverse nature decline

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March 1, 2025
2 min read

Nations agree to funding plan agreed to reverse nature decline

Nations around the world have agreed to a funding plan at UN talks in Rome, hoping to reverse the decline of nature. Countries “were eventually able to overcome deep divisions” the BBC reported, which caused a breakdown in negotiations in 2024 in Colombia.

The deal hopes to help nations reach their goal of raising $200 billion or £159 billion by 2030 for action to protect biodiversity. At the current rate, species are declining so rapidly that many scientists are warning that humans are responsible for a sixth mass extinction on the planet.

The extinction rate has also been accelerating over the last half a century, with animals and plants alike struggling to survive amidst threats from human activity as well as climate change.

In 2022, nations agreed to a landmark deal to halt this decline, agreeing to protect 30% of the world’s land and waters. This came after recognising that dramatic actin had been needed. To that end, countries agreed the $200 billion annually would be raised by 2030. But the OECD’s latest data estimates that only $15 billion or £12 billion had actually been raised.

Last year’s UN biodiversity summit in Colombia, COP16, hoped to see nations coming together to devise a new plan to gather the funds needed. But as talks ran into overtime, negotiations broke down with delegates with delegates having to leave early to not miss their flights home.

But now, they have reconvened in Rome. After three days of discussion, a new strategy has been reached. The new deal calls on countries to adopt national funding strategies, commit to a permanent fund for nature, and to dedicate funding towards indigenous groups.

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