123 countries commit to new pledges at COP17 to tackle nature loss

58% of UN member states have filed new pledges to curb nature loss, a deadline set for the upcoming COP17 biodiversity summit in Bonn next month. The submissions, due by 30 September, represent a modest but crucial step toward the global goal of halting species decline by 2030. The UN’s call for fresh commitments came after the 2022 Kunming‑Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework set ambitious targets for governments worldwide.

The pledges matter because the planet is losing species at an unprecedented rate. Habitat destruction, overexploitation and climate change have pushed many ecosystems to the brink. The 2022 framework asked each country to outline concrete actions, financing and monitoring plans to reverse the trend. Without updated national plans, the 2030 “living‑planet” goal will remain out of reach, and the UN risked losing credibility on biodiversity. The deadline was also intended to give negotiators fresh material for the Bonn talks, where the framework will be reviewed and refined.

So far, 123 of the 193 UN members have submitted their plans. The United States, the European Union, China, Brazil, India and South Africa are among the respondents. Most of the pledges focus on expanding protected areas, restoring degraded lands and improving wildlife trade monitoring. However, NGOs say many submissions lack clear financing and measurable targets. A coalition of conservation groups warned that without robust funding, the promises could remain on paper. In contrast, the finance ministry of Germany praised the “increasing ambition” of the pledges and offered to host a side‑event on biodiversity financing at the summit.

At COP17, negotiators will compare the new pledges against the 2030 targets and decide whether to tighten the framework. The summit will also consider a “global biodiversity loss fund” to support low‑income countries. If the momentum holds, the pledges could translate into billions of dollars for restoration projects and stricter protections for critical habitats. Failure to secure firm commitments could widen the gap between policy and on‑ground action, risking another missed deadline for the planet’s most vulnerable species.