Negotiators at the 2026 UN biodiversity summit (COP17) in Armenia spent more time than expected debating a single issue: biodiversity finance. The talks grew tense as parties tried to reconcile the gap between pledged money and the resources needed to protect the world’s ecosystems.
The Democratic Republic of Congo, home to the Congo Basin—the second-largest rainforest—has been a vocal critic of the shortfall. Its chief negotiator, Daniel Mukubi, repeatedly warned that without additional funding, the country cannot safeguard the forests that support millions of Indigenous peoples.
“All this weight … the objectives, targets of the global biodiversity framework … It requires additional efforts for developing countries, such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to be able to find alternatives,” Mukubi told Mongabay.
At COP15 in Montreal, the DRC pushed for industrialized nations to mobilise US$100 billion per year for biodiversity. The final agreement settled on US$20 billion annually by 2025 and US$30 billion by 2030, a fraction of the original ask.
A new global report tracking progress indicates that the interim target of US$20 billion for 2025 has likely not been met, leaving a substantial financing gap as the 2030 goals approach.
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The broader issue is that biodiversity loss threatens food security, water supplies and climate resilience for vulnerable populations. When funding stalls, the burden falls on communities that depend on forests for their livelihoods, increasing the risk of illegal logging and land conversion.
Only twelve of the twenty-five developed countries listed as contributors actually supplied money to the ninth replenishment of the Global Environment Facility (GEF-9). This low participation rate undermines the resource mobilisation required by Article 20 of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Developed nations have responded by proposing to broaden the donor pool, inviting countries such as China and Gulf states to share the load. However, many of the traditional contributors remain reluctant, citing domestic economic pressures and shifting geopolitical priorities.
Push for a dedicated financing mechanism
The DRC argues that housing biodiversity funds within the GEF creates high transaction costs and limits access for developing nations.
Negotiators at COP17 agreed on a set of criteria for a new, independent financing mechanism that would be governed by the Conference of the Parties and operate transparently. The mechanism must disburse funds to all eligible developing countries and support Indigenous peoples and local communities.
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Decision 16/34, adopted at COP16, set a roadmap to have this mechanism operational by COP19 in 2030. The next milestone will be addressed at COP18, scheduled for 2028, where parties will decide whether to establish a brand-new entity or designate an existing institution to serve as the permanent biodiversity financing platform.
A funding gap far beyond the headline targets
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s negotiators have pointed to a funding shortfall that extends far beyond the publicly stated targets. Studies cited by Mukubi indicate a global annual gap of US$700 billion—a figure that dwarfs the benchmarks agreed at COP15. Of that total, US$500 billion is already spent annually on subsidies that harm biodiversity, including oil extraction, chemical fertilizers, and agricultural pesticides. Redirecting even a portion of these harmful incentives could significantly reduce the remaining deficit, Mukubi argued, but developed nations have shown little willingness to reform such policies.
Instead, the DRC’s push for US$100 billion annually by 2030 was framed as a compromise. Yet the reality on the ground has fallen short. A global report tracking progress confirmed that the 2025 target has not been met, leaving developing nations like the DRC without the resources needed to meet their commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Indigenous communities and the fight for equitable access
At COP17, negotiators finalized criteria for this new mechanism, which must operate under the authority of the Conference of the Parties, disburse funds transparently, and prioritize Indigenous and local communities. The DRC has consistently argued that the GEF’s cumbersome processes and limited funding make it unsuitable for the scale of need.
Mukubi noted that the US$362 million allocated through the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund (hosted by the GEF) and the US$8.5 billion pledged for GEF-9 have fallen far short of requirements. The DRC’s participation in ongoing discussions reflects its determination to secure a mechanism that aligns with the annual gap and the total shortfall identified in studies. Without such a system, Mukubi warned, the global biodiversity framework risks remaining unfulfilled, leaving vulnerable communities and ecosystems without the support they need.
