Nearly 8 in 10 people want faster action to protect the ocean, global survey reveals ahead of UN biodiversity summit

16 October 2026, Yerevan, Armenia: A new global survey of 20,000 people across 20 countries reveals widespread public demand for governments to accelerate ocean protection, as world leaders gather in Armenia for the Leaders Summit ahead of the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP17). 

The findings come as over 140 organisations and leaders from across civil society – representing tens of millions of people – sound the alarm that the world is not on track to meet the global target of protecting and conserving at least 30% of the ocean by 2030 (30×30), and issue a global call for governments to accelerate delivery.

The public intervention follows recent findings from the CBD’s Global Report, the 30×30 Global Assessment and the Ocean Protection Gap Report 2026, which together underscore the scale of the implementation gap. Around 10% of the ocean is currently designated as protected or conserved, while existing national commitments would increase this to only 12% by 2030. Just 3.5% of the ocean is currently assessed as effectively protected¹.

Civil society signatories warn that “implementation remains insufficient and uneven” and that “without a step-change in the scale and pace of action, the 30×30 commitment will be missed in the ocean”.

The survey reveals strong public expectations for governments to close this gap. Almost 8 in 10 people (79%) say governments need to act faster to protect the ocean while an overwhelming majority (95%) say it’s important that areas designated for ocean conservation are effectively managed, rather than protected in name only. Public trust is also at stake, with most (59%) saying their trust in governments would be undermined if designated areas failed to deliver meaningful protection. Over half of respondents (52%) say governments should take all reasonable steps to meet the global 30×30 target.

Calls for faster ocean protection were widespread across the countries surveyed, with nine in ten respondents (90%¹) in both Brazil and Indonesia saying governments need to act faster, alongside 87% in Argentina, 85%¹ in India, 81%¹ in Nigeria and 81%¹ in France. The findings demonstrate strong public expectations for accelerated government action across Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe ahead of COP17.

The global call brings together organisations and leading voices from across conservation, climate, development, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, faith communities, gender equality and youth movements. Signatories are urging governments to accelerate ocean protection, strengthen the management and enforcement of existing protected areas, respect the role, rights and leadership of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and mobilise the finance needed to deliver lasting conservation outcomes.

Echoing the public demand for protection that works in practice, the signatories state: “A protected or conserved area should have real protection – protection that delivers the intended outcomes for nature and the people whose lives and livelihoods depend on a healthy ocean.

“This is not only a conservation challenge; it is a development and resilience challenge. A healthy ocean underpins food security, livelihoods, cultures, economies and resilience to a changing climate. For millions of people, including Indigenous Peoples and local communities, particularly those in coastal communities and small island developing states, healthy marine systems are a foundation for everyday life and livelihoods.” 

The civil society action comes as COP17 prepares to undertake the first Global Review of progress in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted by countries in 2022. This includes the 30×30 target to protect and conserve at least 30% of the world’s land and ocean by 2030. 

With the 2030 deadline approaching, COP17 represents a critical opportunity for governments to respond to the evidence, demonstrate how they will close the implementation gap, and accelerate delivery of their biodiversity commitments. The global survey found that 80% of people believe governments at COP17 should agree to actions that accelerate ocean conservation before 2030.

Dr. Kathryn Matthews, Chief Scientist at Oceana, said: “Governments have not kept pace with their own 30×30 commitments. We’ve only protected a small fraction of the ocean on paper, and an even smaller fraction in practice. But when political will, local leadership, and science-driven planning come together, we can create spaces where ocean life thrives and coastal communities benefit. This requires more than ambition, it demands equitable governance, actual restrictions on destructive fishing, and proper enforcement. World leaders should not let this 30×30 momentum pass and miss the opportunity to turn words into action.”

Brianna Fruean, climate activist from Samoa and Together for the Ocean ambassador, said: “For us in the Pacific, the ocean is more than something we depend on. It connects us, carries our histories and is woven into who we are. Across our islands, communities are already leading efforts to protect marine life and restore ecosystems, drawing on generations of Indigenous knowledge. We are not waiting for permission to act but we cannot do this alone. With just four years left to deliver 30×30, the gap between global promises and protection in the water remains far too wide. At COP17, governments must match the determination of Pacific communities with the political will, resources and action needed to protect the ocean. Our future depends on it.”

Callum Roberts, Professor of Marine Conservation, University of Exeter said: “The ocean is fundamental to the health of planet Earth. But our regulator and provider is under threat as pressure compounds. We know what works: decades of scientific research have shown that when marine ecosystems are effectively protected, biodiversity can rebound and habitats become more resilient. We have seen remarkable recoveries where destructive activities are removed and nature is given the space to regenerate. Despite this evidence, today just 3.5% of the ocean is assessed as effectively protected. The challenge now is to turn scientific evidence and international commitments into action at the scale and pace needed.”

Alfred DeGemmis, Director of International Policy, WCS said: “Marine and coastal ecosystems are home to some of the planet’s most extraordinary biodiversity. Unfortunately, the implementation of global conservation targets in the ocean appears to be lagging behind. While many countries have committed to conserving 30% of their marine environment, the pace of new establishment and recognitions for protected and conserved areas will not be fast enough to achieve 30×30 in the ocean. However, there is hope; COP17 can adopt a political call to action that encourages mapping and monitoring for marine habitats, sharing finance and governance with  women ocean guardians and people living alongside biodiversity, and integrating climate resilience into our conservation strategies.Together, such actions can strengthen the case for inclusive and resilient area-based conservation – a key ingredient to deliver 30×30.” 

Gauthier Carle, Executive Director, Ocean & Climate Platform, said: “The ocean is one of our greatest allies in tackling the climate crisis. Regulating our climate, it absorbs vast amounts of heat and carbon dioxide. But this comes at a cost: ocean warming, acidification and deoxygenation, alongside other growing pressures, are threatening marine ecosystems. The climate and biodiversity crises are deeply interconnected, and we cannot afford to tackle them in isolation. We are uniting ahead of COP17 to accelerate effective ocean protection alongside ambitious emission reductions, and to mobilise the political will and investment needed to deliver lasting results.”

Cristina Tebar Less, Policy Director, She Changes Ocean, said: “Women are already leading efforts to protect and restore the ocean across the world, but they are often excluded from the decisions and resources that will determine its future. We cannot deliver 30×30 without addressing these inequalities. As governments take stock of progress at COP17, they must ensure women and girls’ rights, meaningful participation and leadership are central to ocean conservation, backed by equitable access to finance and resources, in line with Target 23 of the GBF.”

Karl Deering, Senior Director for Resilient Futures, CARE USA, said: “For millions of people, the ocean is food and nutrition, income, security and the foundation of life. When marine ecosystems decline, the consequences fall hardest on communities already facing poverty, inequality, and the impacts of the climate crisis. That is why this global call matters far beyond the conservation community. At COP17, governments must accelerate the delivery of 30×30, and ensure that the communities who rely on the ocean have the opportunity and resources to determine how conservation is designed and delivered.”

Surasma Lamichhane, High Seas Youth Ambassador, EarthEcho International said: “Our generation will inherit the consequences if governments fail to deliver on their promises to protect the ocean. Despite the global commitment to protect at least 30% by 2030, today just 10% of the ocean is designated for protection with only four years left. Young people around the world are already taking action to protect marine life and restore ecosystems, but we cannot carry this responsibility alone. At COP17, all eyes will be on governments to address the ocean protection gap and make good on their promises.”

The Right Reverend Graham Usher, Lead Bishop for the Environment for the Church of England, said: “The ocean supports biodiversity, regulates climate, stores carbon, sustains global food webs, and provides critical genetic and biological resources. The Psalmist speaks of the seas containing “the works of the Lord and his wonders in the deep”, yet in many places around the world humanity has lost respect for the seas in favour of an exploitative attitude. Protecting them is vital not only for ocean health but for the stability and well-being of the entire planet.”

Read the full intervention and list of signatories: https://deliverocean30x30.org/.

ENDS

Notes to editors 

1. Assessment as “effectively protected” uses the Marine Conservation Institute’s MPAtlas analysis of fully/highly protected zones as a proxy for the share of the ocean that is currently effectively protected.

About COP17

The 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17) will take place in Yerevan, Armenia, from 19-30 October 2026. The summit will bring together governments, scientists, Indigenous Peoples, civil society and other stakeholders to advance implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted in 2022 to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.

About the Global Report and Global Review

The Convention on Biological Diversity’s (CBD) Global Report assesses collective progress in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF), adopted in 2022 to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. Drawing on national reports, national biodiversity strategies and action plans, global indicators and scientific evidence, it provides the evidence base for the first Global Review of collective progress at CBD COP17 in Yerevan, Armenia. The review will assess progress towards the Framework’s goals and targets including the commitment to protect and conserve at least 30% of the world’s land and ocean by 2030 (30×30), identify gaps and challenges, and inform discussions on action needed to accelerate implementation.

About the polling

The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 20,001 Respondents across the UK, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, South Africa, Nigeria, UAE, Saudi Arabia, India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and Indonesia. The data was collected between 02.10.2026 – 12.10.2026. Censuswide is a member of the Market Research Society (MRS) and the British Polling Council (BPC), and a signatory of the Global Data Quality Pledge. 

About the civil society call

Developed through collaboration across sectors, the global call for action brings together organisations and voices from conservation, climate, development, gender equality, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, faith communities, and youth movements. Together, they are calling on governments to accelerate delivery of the commitment to protect and conserve at least 30% of the ocean by 2030, and to ensure that this protection is effective, equitable and enduring  – delivering for biodiversity while supporting the people and communities that depend on a healthy ocean.

About Together for the Ocean

Together for the Ocean is a global campaign working to accelerate implementation of the 30×30 target in the ocean. By uniting stakeholders behind shared goals, the campaign helps build political support, strengthen accountability and champion effective ocean protection that delivers lasting benefits for nature, people and climate.

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