Organizations Called for Global Biodiversity Subsidy Reform
A coalition representing $4.7 trillion in assets is pushing governments to redirect harmful public spending.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Environmental
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One hundred thirty organizations have signed an open letter urging world governments to reform public spending practices that deplete ecosystems. The coalition argues that current financial policies undermine goals established under the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Why it matters
Governments currently allocate $2.6 trillion annually to practices that harm ecosystems, creating a direct conflict with international restoration targets. This campaign seeks to align public policy with the 2030 goal of restoring 30% of degraded land and waters.
The UN Environment Programme estimated that governments directed $2.4 trillion toward environmentally harmful subsidies in 2023, including $1.1 trillion for fossil fuels and $0.4 trillion for intensive agriculture. Conversely, global investment in nature-based solutions totaled only $220 billion.
The players
UN Environment Programme
The UN agency coordinating global environmental policy and tracking progress on biodiversity-harmful subsidies.
World Economic Forum
An international non-governmental organization that identifies global risks and emphasizes biodiversity loss as a primary threat.
The details
The letter demands that nations establish cross-ministerial platforms to redesign fiscal policy. It calls for the creation of socially equitable plans to pivot funding toward conservation and resiliency. The coalition aims to bridge the investment gap, as current funding for nature-based solutions must scale to $571 billion per year by 2030 to meet global targets.
Timeline
2022: Nations agreed to the Global Biodiversity Framework.
2023: Governments allocated $2.4 trillion to environmentally harmful subsidies.
2025: Deadline for nations to identify biodiversity-harmful subsidies.
2030: Target year for restoring 30% of degraded ecosystems.
The Tech Race
The push for subsidy reform follows the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which sets specific restoration targets. This initiative attempts to enforce the financial commitments required to achieve the biodiversity targets established by the framework.
The outcome of this call for reform depends on political action across national ministries to adjust tax and subsidy codes. Significant changes in agricultural and energy costs for the public will likely occur if governments successfully reallocate the $2.6 trillion currently spent on harmful activities.
The takeaway
The gap between $220 billion in current nature-based investment and the $571 billion required by 2030 highlights a significant funding shortfall. Observers should track national subsidy disclosure reports ahead of the upcoming COP17 in Yerevan for evidence of legislative progress.
Further reading
For broader context on how nations are managing conservation goals, read more in our Environmental section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Edie.
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Should governments phase out financial subsidies for industries that harm nature to support environmental goals?
