Nations update nature plan, funding lags
Global nature talks reach deal but money remains an issue
Saturday, 31 October 2026
Photo by Romain Dancre on Unsplash
Warm-up
- What nature areas in your country most need protection?
- Who should pay more for conservation and why?
- What examples of wildlife recovery do you know?
Vocabulary
- delegate
- a person chosen to represent a country or group at a meeting
- framework
- an agreed plan that organises goals and actions
- target
- a specific goal to be achieved by a set time
- extinction
- the state when a type of animal or plant disappears forever
- pledge
- to promise to give money or support
- subsidy
- money a government gives to support a business or activity
- philanthropist
- a person who gives large amounts of money to help others
- voluntary
- done by choice, not required by law
Reading
Listen to this story
British EnglishIn Yerevan, Armenia, delegates from nearly 200 countries met for almost two weeks and, early on Saturday, approved key parts of a plan to get the 2022 Global Biodiversity Framework back on track. Meeting president Hambardzum Matevosyan closed the session after the deal.
The framework set 24 targets, including protecting 30% of land and seas by 2030, but UN assessments say the world is on track for only one. Scientists warn of a sixth mass extinction driven by human activity. Yet some species — elephants, green sea turtles and tigers — are recovering as 623 million acres (252m hectares) of degraded land move into protection.
Countries had pledged $30bn in public finance and aimed to mobilise $170bn from private sources by the end of the decade, but funding has lagged as aid is redirected. In Yerevan, more than $1bn was pledged; philanthropists, including Leonardo DiCaprio's Re:wild, offered about half.
Delegates discussed cutting harmful subsidies, such as those that support trawling. Little progress was made on the voluntary Cali Fund for genetic resources: it was expected to raise up to $3.6bn a year, yet only $10,000 had been pledged at the meeting's start. Approval of scientific reports was delayed after objections from Saudi Arabia and Russia.
Comprehension
- Where did the nature talks take place?
- What 2022 agreement were delegates trying to revive?
- How many of the 24 targets is the world on track to meet?
- How much money was pledged in Yerevan, and who gave about half?
- What issue delayed approval of scientific reports?
Grammar focus
Wish / if only
Use wish/if only to express regrets or desired changes. Forms: wish/if only + past simple (now); wish/if only + had + past participle (past regrets); wish + would + base verb (a change you want from others). (Examples constructed.)
- I wish I had saved more money earlier.
- Residents wish the city would reduce night-time noise.
Grammar exercise
Complete each sentence with the correct form after wish/if only.
- Students wish they (have) ___ clearer rules now.
- If only donors (pledge) ___ more at the project's start.
- Parents wish schools (start) ___ classes on time soon.
- Teams wish the project (start) ___ before summer.
- If only the funding (be) ___ available now.
Discussion
- Should harmful subsidies like trawling be removed faster?
- How can private donors help without replacing public duty?
- Which target would you prioritise before 2030? Why?
- What would persuade companies to fund the Cali Fund?
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