Biodiversity is fundamental to human well-being, planetary health, and economic prosperity around the world. Yet, it is facing an unprecedented crisis: nearly one million species are at risk of extinction. The current extinction rate is already tens to hundreds of times greater than the average over the past ten million years—and this rate is accelerating.
In response to this urgent situation, the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted on December 19, 2022, during the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. This landmark agreement aims to halt the alarming loss of biodiversity and drive global efforts to restore nature.
The Framework includes four long-term goals to achieve the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity, alongside twenty-three specific global targets set for achievement by 2030. These ambitious targets are grouped under three key themes: (1) reducing threats to biodiversity (Targets 1-8); (2) meeting people’s needs through sustainable use and equitable benefit sharing (Targets 9-13); and (3) tools and solutions for implementation and mainstreaming (Targets 14-23).
Here is the TARGET 18:
“Identify by 2025, and eliminate, phase out or reform incentives, including subsidies, harmful for biodiversity, in a proportionate, just, fair, effective and equitable way, while substantially and progressively reducing them by at least $500 billion per year by 2030, starting with the most harmful incentives, and scale up positive incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.”
Target 18 of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework addresses one of the critical drivers of biodiversity loss: harmful incentives and subsidies. These financial mechanisms, often embedded in sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, energy, and forestry, can inadvertently encourage practices that degrade ecosystems, overexploit natural resources, and threaten species survival. By calling for the identification and elimination, phase-out, or reform of such incentives by 2025, the Framework urges governments and stakeholders to take decisive and immediate action. The goal is not only to reduce negative financial flows by at least $500 billion annually by 2030 but also to do so in a manner that is just, fair, effective, and equitable—ensuring that the transition does not disproportionately impact vulnerable groups or communities.
In practice, implementing Target 18 will require a comprehensive review of existing policies and subsidies at national and international levels. Governments must work collaboratively with industries, financial institutions, and civil society to pinpoint which incentives are most damaging to biodiversity and prioritize their reform. The process involves transparency, stakeholder engagement, and careful consideration of social and economic impacts. Additionally, scaling up positive incentives is equally important—rewarding practices that contribute to conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of biodiversity can drive behavioural change and promote the adoption of nature-friendly solutions across all sectors.
Achieving Target 18 is expected to generate multiple benefits. Reducing harmful incentives will free up resources that can be redirected towards biodiversity-friendly investments, fostering innovation and sustainable development. It will also send a strong signal to markets and consumers, aligning economic activities with environmental goals and encouraging responsible production and consumption patterns. Ultimately, success in meeting Target 18 will be a significant step toward reversing the global biodiversity crisis and securing a healthy, resilient planet for future generations.
