Playing Possum with Biodiversity Pledges:

According to an evaluation from The Guardian and Carbon Brief, over half of the countries around the globe have failed to formulate a plan to guard 30% of their land and sea for nature. This is despite pledging less than three years ago to a global agreement that established this goal: a once-in-a-decade UN deal known as "30 by 30." The goal of this deal was to halt the devastation of our ecosystems through the protection of a third of the planet for biodiversity by the close of this decade.

Biodiversity on the Back Burner:

Of the 137 nations that have submitted a plan, 70 have excluded proposals for the protection of 30% of their land and sea, and another 10 are yet to decide if they will do so. A whopping 61 are still to provide a roadmap for achieving these targets. Collectively, the countries not achieving these goals account for 34% of the Earth and consist of biodiversity hotspots like Mexico, Indonesia, Malaysia, Peru, the Philippines, South Africa, and Venezuela.

Tall Trees, High Hopes:

Take Indonesia—an important rainforest country. It has yet to suggest a percentage target, pointing out that the "30 by 30" goal should not put an "unnecessarily heavy burden" on countries. The balancing act, they argue, between managing biodiversity and maintaining economic, social, and environmental spheres — particularly in developing countries — is no easy task.

Rumble in Rome at Cop16:

As leaders convene in Rome at Cop16 to finalize negotiations, hopes are high for a more determined effort to safeguard our planet. However, the stumbling block remains the lack of financial support from wealthier nations to assist others in meeting these targets. If we aim to prevent further losses in biodiversity and maintain nature's services like pollination, water and air filtration, and pandemic prevention, this 30% target is a necessity, not merely a "nice to have."

Conservation Efforts in Perspective:

Inger Andersen, the executive director of the UN Environment Programme, reinforces that there is progress being made. Some 17.6% of land and 8.4% of ocean are currently under some form of protection on the global scale. However, she highlights that much more is needed to reach our climate and development goals. "Without protecting nature," she concludes, "we simply cannot deliver."

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