EU leaders must honour their global biodiversity commitments and stop undermining nature protection at home, WWF warns ahead of the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP17), taking place in Yerevan, Armenia, from 19 to 30 October.
In the EU’s position for COP17 agreed by this week, Environment Ministers commit the EU to push for faster implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, stronger integration of biodiversity across policies and sectors, and increased public and private funding.
For EU leadership to be credible, these commitments must be translated into concrete action domestically: rather than pursuing efforts to weaken environmental legislation, the EU must implement, enforce and fund its existing environmental laws, including the Birds and Habitats Directives and the Water Framework Directive.
“The EU cannot credibly call to step up action to halt biodiversity loss globally while weakening its own nature laws at home. COP17 must be about closing the gap between promises and progress – mobilising finance, tackling the drivers of nature loss and putting existing commitments into practice.” said Sabien Leemans, Biodiversity Manager at WWF EU. “That requires implementing and funding the EU’s nature laws, not rolling them back. Nearly 1 million citizens from across Europe are calling on EU leaders to stop weakening the laws that protect the environment and keep their #HandsOffNature.”
COP17 must close the gap between promises and progress
A new analysis by the Global Cooperation Institute (GCI), commissioned by WWF, identifies the barriers slowing implementation of the global biodiversity framework and the changes needed to overcome them. The analysis builds on the UN’s Global Report, which found that fewer than half of the national targets assessed were reported as on track. Progress remains particularly weak on addressing the underlying drivers of biodiversity loss.
As countries gather in Yerevan for the first formal global review of progress towards the framework’s 2030 goals, WWF is calling on the EU to use its global influence to help close the implementation gap on the Global Biodiversity Framework through political leadership, coordinated action across governments, adequate financing and the meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
“COP17 must move countries towards action and implementation. The benefits of collective action for nature are clear: stronger ecological resilience, more secure food and water systems, and reduced economic vulnerability.” Kirsten Schuijt, Director General, WWF International said. “WWF’s latest Living Planet Report shows that nature can recover when the right actions are taken. Lasting progress however depends on transforming the systems driving nature loss and shifting decision-making from short-term fixes to long-term solutions.”
The EU must deliver at home
The EU has a strong legal framework for nature protection and restoration. To lead credibly on the global stage, WWF is calling on the EU to:
- Implement and fund existing nature laws, including the Birds and Habitats Directives and the Water Framework Directive.
- Deliver credible and science-based national restoration plans, backed by clear measures and adequate financing under the EU Nature Restoration Law.
- Align agriculture, food systems, infrastructure, energy and finance with biodiversity goals, ensuring other policies do not undermine nature protection and restoration.
- Mobilise biodiversity finance and reform harmful subsidies, aligning public and private financial flows with global biodiversity goals and ensure that the Global External Instrument dedicates at least 50% for climate and environment with a minimum 15% for biodiversity.
- Strengthen synergies between climate and biodiversity action, while ensuring the meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples, local communities and other rights holders in biodiversity decisions and implementation.
