Deutsche Umwelthilfe criticizes outcomes of UN biodiversity conference in Yerevan
The UN biodiversity conference in Yerevan failed to deliver a critical turning point for global nature conservation. Environmental NGO Deutsche Umwelthilfe is calling for an immediate reduction in environmentally harmful subsidies.
The 17th UN Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP17) in Yerevan has concluded without achieving the breakthrough required to halt the global loss of biodiversity, according to the environmental organization Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH). While the German government advocated for stronger nature protection and the reduction of harmful subsidies during the summit, the NGO argues that political action remains insufficient.
DUH Executive Director Sascha Müller-Kraenner stated that international commitments must be translated into domestic policy. The organization estimates that Germany allocates over 65 billion euros annually to subsidies that degrade nature, including funding for fossil-fuel-heavy transportation projects and ecologically damaging agricultural practices. DUH is now demanding that the federal government present a concrete plan to phase out these subsidies.
Achieving the 2030 biodiversity targets—which include protecting 30 percent of terrestrial and marine areas—requires a coordinated effort across multiple ministries, including finance, transport, economy, and agriculture. The Yerevan conference marked the first global assessment of the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.