IS THE WORLD ON TRACK FOR 30X30?

Is the world on track for 30×30? Exclusive briefing on new global assessment of progress toward protecting nature. With less than four years to deliver 30×30 – the global goal of protecting at least 30% of the world’s land and ocean by 2030 – a major new global assessment from Campaign for Nature will reveal where progress stands and what governments must do to get back on track. It was developed in collaboration with Together for the Ocean and is accompanied by the Ocean Protection Gap Report 2026, a new deep-dive look at progress in the ocean, where the implementation gap is greatest.

Ahead of the reports’ public launch at a 30×30 high-level event with Heads of State at UN Headquarters during the UN General Assembly on 23 September, this embargoed press briefing will give journalists an advance look at the findings of the Global 30×30 Assessment, the most comprehensive analysis of progress toward the landmark target agreed under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, as well as the findings of the accompanying Ocean Protection Gap Report 2026.

High-level political leaders and experts on conservation, Indigenous Peoples’ rights and ocean protection will unpack the findings, highlighting success stories, examining where progress is being made, where critical gaps remain, and the viable pathways available to accelerate action between now and 2030.

SPEAKERS:

• Frans Timmermans, former Vice-President of the European Commission (tbc)

• Brian O’Donnell, Director, Campaign for Nature

• Jennifer Corpuz, Policy Advisor, International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB)

• Juan Carlos Navarro, Minister of Environment, Panama

• Pauli Merriman, Senior Director of Oceans, WWF International

The briefing will explore key questions including:

• Are governments on track for 30×30? Where and how progress is being made and where national commitments and implementation currently stand against the global goal.

• Are we protecting the right places? Why progress cannot be measured by percentage coverage alone, and why protecting areas of greatest importance for biodiversity matters.

• What role do Indigenous Peoples and local communities play? Why recognising their rights, territories and leadership – including Indigenous and Traditional Territories – is critical to delivering lasting conservation outcomes.

• Where are we making progress, and what are the greatest challenges?  Existing commitments are making substantial progress on land, although critical challenges remain. However, ocean protection is lagging far behind what’s needed.

• How do we close the finance gap? The scale of investment needed to deliver 30×30, where current funding is falling short, and the proven finance models that could be deployed at greater speed and scale, based on analysis found in the upcoming global assessment.

• What needs to happen between now and 2030? The policy, finance and implementation shifts that can close the gap and put the target within reach.

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