Ahead of COP17, the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity called on companies to invest in nature-based solutions and governments to advance related policies. In Japan, attention is expected to focus on progress on NbS initiatives at a summit in July 2026, with collaboration with the financial sector also recognised as important.
Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, stressed the importance of companies investing in nature-based solutions (NbS) and governments developing the necessary policies. COP17 is scheduled to take place in Armenia in October 2026, where progress toward the GBF’s 23 action targets is expected to undergo an interim assessment.
The targets include 30by30, which seeks to conserve 30% of land and marine areas. Although the area of protected regions has increased, improvements in quality have lagged, underscoring the need to strengthen connectivity between regions and inclusive management. Progress on assessing and disclosing impacts on nature under Target 15 has also been slow, and governments need to establish policy environments that encourage corporate disclosure.
In Japan, the development of legislation and administrative measures has lagged, and it was stated that decisive government action will be essential to achieving the targets by 2030. At the summit to be held in Japan in July 2026, progress on NbS initiatives and disclosure aligned with the TNFD framework was reported. The active participation of the financial sector was also noted, with mobilising finance and collaborating with financial institutions identified as key to achieving nature positivity.