After two weeks of intensive negotiations, the Montreal Biodiversity Summit reached a landmark agreement with broad international backing. A total of 196 countries united around a clear set of goals: protect 30% of the planet’s land and marine areas by 2030, implement stronger measures to halt biodiversity loss across all regions, and establish a new economic fund dedicated to conservation efforts. Many observers describe the accord as a Nature’s Paris Agreement, a framework designed to deploy concrete goals, laws, policies, and funding tools that can stop and reverse biodiversity decline by 2030 at every level.
The Montreal agreement, signed on a Monday morning and unanimously endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly, envisions translating these ambitious international commitments into tangible national action. Unlike earlier accords, this Canadian framework emphasizes robust government plans to translate global promises into practical steps within each country. Canada, taking a lead role, commits to safeguarding natural areas, reducing food waste, curbing invasive species, and limiting the use of harmful pesticides while ensuring that biodiversity protection remains central to national policy. These core elements were finalized at the biodiversity summit, COP15, in Montreal.
1.- Lens 30×30
Montreal crowned a major achievement with the so‑called “target 30×30,” a bold pledge to safeguard 30% of both land and sea. Current assessments show roughly 10% of the world’s marine territories and 17% of terrestrial areas are protected. If widely adopted, 30×30 would represent a dramatic shift in how nations guard ecosystems. In several countries, this regulatory shift would mark a fundamental change in conservation practices. Some nations such as Morocco, Argentina, and South Africa are moving toward much stronger protection, while others like Spain, France, and the United Kingdom are approaching the 28% mark on average.
2.- Restore ecosystems
Beyond expanding protected zones, the Montreal agreement emphasizes restoring degraded ecosystems. After signing, participating countries commit to bringing back at least 30% of damaged natural areas by the end of the decade. This translates to a substantial scale of restoration, including reestablishing 6,000 million hectares of terrestrial and marine habitats worldwide. The plan targets revitalizing flora and fauna across diverse regions, reinforcing biodiversity protections and preventing species extinction through proactive restoration efforts.
3.- Reducing food waste
The pact also includes concrete commitments to halve food waste and curb excess consumption across the food system. Projections from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations indicate that roughly one-third of global food production is lost or wasted each year, amounting to about 1,300 million tons. The agreement frames food waste reduction as a pivotal step toward healthier ecosystems and more efficient food systems, aligning environmental and economic goals.
4.- Invasive species
Controlling invasive species is another central pillar. Montreal calls for stronger measures to limit the introduction and spread of nonnative species and to cut entry rates of known or potentially invasive species by at least half by 2030. Priority sites, including island ecosystems, warrant focused eradication or control efforts to safeguard native biodiversity and ecosystem functions.
5.- Cut pesticides in half
Efforts to reduce the use of harmful pesticides and dangerous chemicals form a key part of the agreement. By cutting emissions and minimizing ecological disruption, countries aim to protect pollinators and other critical fauna while preserving crop yields. The document also addresses excessive agricultural practices that damage ecosystems, citing examples of nutrient overloading that can trigger harmful algal blooms and ecosystem stress in sensitive environments.
6.- More green investment
Financial commitments feature prominently. The agreement calls for the gradual elimination of environmentally harmful subsidies and the mobilization of substantial funds to support biodiversity by 2030. The target envisions collaboration among governments, private companies, and financial institutions to channel billions into conservation, restoration, and sustainable land and water management practices. The understanding is that strong, aligned investment accelerates real-world conservation outcomes across nations and regions.
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Note: the above summary reflects the overarching goals discussed at COP15 in Montreal, focusing on how nations can translate international consensus into practical, on-the-ground biodiversity protection, restoration, and sustainable development strategies.