Throughout the last three decades under the Convention on Biological Diversity, various plans have been agreed upon to protect nature and species globally. However, historically targets have not been met (BBC). Now governments are looking forward to the next decade.

In October, the U.N. Biodiversity Conference, or COP15, will remotely convene governments from around the world with the goal of sealing a new global plan to protect biodiversity. The Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework was published on the U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity earlier this week (Reuters), although a draft was released earlier in the year (The Guardian). The most recent draft sets 21 targets for 2030, including conserving 30% of the earth’s land and oceans, eliminating plastic waste, and reducing pesticide use by two-thirds.

However, while noting that protecting 30% of the earth’s land and oceans by 2030 is a worthy goal, Indigenous groups and allies have pushed back against the draft framework. They argue that a “protected areas” approach to conservation has historically been a part of Indigenous dispossession and mistreatment, and are concerned this could be replicated (Mongabay). The U.N. Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment stated that human rights need to be central to the framework (UN News).

Feedback has been requested from governments prior to the conference. China hopes governments will sign the framework during the October conference, with the goal of a more detailed treaty being finalized next spring (Reuters).