Biodiversity Summit Concludes with Stalled Finance and Missed Targets

The 'Yerevan Pathway' agreement aims to reform subsidies that fuel environmental degradation, yet the conference generated only $1.8 billion in new finance—a fraction of the $200 billion annual target established by the 2022 Kunming-Montreal framework. While the Netherlands committed $500 million to tropical forest protection, experts note that $700 billion in additional annual spending is required to restore ecosystems damaged by industrial activity. Currently, approximately $2.4 trillion continues to flow into subsidies that actively harm the natural world.

Critiques from organizations like the World Wildlife Fund and the Wildlife Conservation Society highlight a lack of political ambition, with 22 of 23 global biodiversity targets now behind schedule. The Cali Fund, intended to share genetic resource benefits, remains largely unfunded, with only $10,000 pledged by the end of the summit. As negotiators look toward upcoming climate talks in Türkiye, advocates warn that the reliance on voluntary measures and the continued influence of multinational corporations over policy-making leave frontline communities and ecosystems dangerously exposed.