CBD COP17

Four years on from the adoption of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), governments will come together for the first global review of collective progress towards its goals and targets. COP17 is a critical moment to move from commitments to implementation and accelerate action to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.

The ocean is home to extraordinary biodiversity and underpins the lives and livelihoods of billions of people. Yet marine ecosystems face mounting pressures from climate change, pollution, overexploitation, habitat destruction and other human activities. Protecting and restoring ocean biodiversity is essential to delivering the global goals agreed under the GBF.

At COP15 in 2022, governments made a landmark commitment under Target 3 of the GBF to effectively conserve and manage at least 30% of the world’s land, inland waters, coastal areas and ocean by 2030 – known as 30×30.

Now, the focus must be on delivery.

Governments need to urgently accelerate the designation of new marine protected and conserved areas while ensuring that both new and existing areas are effectively and equitably managed. Protection must deliver real outcomes for biodiversity, prioritize areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, and recognize the rights and contributions of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

COP17 provides a vital opportunity to assess where progress is being made, confront the gaps that remain and put the world on a credible pathway towards protecting at least 30% of the ocean by 2030.

TOGETHER FOR THE OCEAN AT CBD COP17

The ocean protection gap 

Together for the Ocean and its partners will be at CBD COP17 calling on governments to turn the ambition of the Global Biodiversity Framework into effective action for the ocean.

Four years from the 2030 deadline, around 10% of the ocean has been designated as protected or conserved – one third of the target. And just 3.5% of the global ocean is assessed as effectively protected.

Progress is being made on 30×30 in the ocean, but not at the speed required. Since 2022, marine and coastal coverage has increased by approximately 1.7%. If recent trends continue, global marine coverage would reach only around 12–15% by 2030.

Reaching 30×30 will therefore require increased ambition alongside much faster implementation – in both national waters and on the high seas.

Too often, marine protected areas (MPAs) are designated in name only with damaging activities continuing within their boundaries and undermining the biodiversity they are intended to protect. To deliver meaningful progress towards 30×30, governments must move beyond protection in name alone and ensure MPAs are effectively managed, adequately resourced and protected from harmful activities. What matters is not simply how much ocean is designated, but whether that protection delivers real, measurable outcomes for nature and for the communities whose lives and livelihoods depend on a healthy ocean. 

Download the Ocean Protection Gap Report 2026 and 30×30 Global Assessment to get the latest data on 30×30 progress and find out what is needed to accelerate effective protection through 2030.

CBD COP17 OCEAN AND 30X30 EVENTS

Closing the Ocean Protection Gap: From 30×30 Commitment to Delivery

Wednesday 28 October 2026: 13:00-14:15 local Armenia time, Ocean Pavilion

With just four years until 2030, CBD COP17 is a critical opportunity to turn global ambition into implementation. Building on the Ocean Protection Gap Report 2026 and Global 30×30 Assessment, this event will examine the state of ocean protection as the defining implementation challenge of the global 30×30 target.

Political leaders and experts will explore how countries can close gaps in the scale, location and quality of protection, from national waters to the high seas. 

The discussion will be rooted in the findings and recommendations of the reports, spotlighting opportunities to strengthen national commitments, protect the places that matter most, implement the High Seas Treaty and mobilise durable finance for effective and equitable ocean protection.