Although the war in the Middle East and Ukraine has led the government to increase defense spending and focus more on economic growth, it is wrong to delay investments designed to protect nature. In fact, meeting the internationally agreed targets could add up to $450 billion to annual global GDP by 2050.
YEREVAN-In times of war, geopolitical turmoil, and fiscal tightening, it is tempting to see the defense of nature as a desirable but non-urgent goal that can be achieved when calmer times return. But we embrace this view at our peril.
As world leaders gather for the United Nations biodiversity and climate change conference this fall, they should remember that more than half of global GDP depends on nature and the services it provides. Healthy soils support the $9.5 trillion global food industry, while forests support 1.5 billion livelihoods worldwide. Healthy rivers help absorb floodwaters and maintain vital transportation networks. Nature is the backbone of the global economy, and protecting it must be a national and international priority.
The natural crisis will not wait until the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine are over. This summer’s hot drought in Europe caused $2-3 billion in crop losses, a double blow to farmers after the war-induced closure of the Strait of Hormuz sent fertilizer prices up 71%. The combined effects of conflict and extreme weather have helped push global food prices to their highest level since 2022.
All told, scientists predict that the partial collapse of ecosystems could cost the global economy $2.7 trillion annually. Despite intense geopolitical instability, we cannot afford to destroy the natural systems on which our economy depends. The global goal of protecting and conserving at least 30% of the world’s land and oceans by 2030, known as 30×30, is more important than ever.
Protecting nature is an investment in resilience and solidarity. Resilience strengthens food and water security, and the capacity to cope with climate shocks. It safeguards livelihoods, public health, and long-term economic stability. The 30×30 targets, adopted by the government in 2022 under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, recognize that protecting nature is fundamental to providing these and other public goods.
For example, kelp forests, mangroves, and swamps absorb carbon dioxide, while coral reefs help protect against storms and provide natural habitats for some of the world’s most diverse ecosystems. On land, forests manage rainfall and support the livelihoods of local communities, and healthy soils retain water and nutrients essential for global food security and flood protection.
Four years ago, the world made significant strides towards the 30×30 target. A new analysis by the Campaign for Nature shows that 20% of land and inland waters are currently designated as protected or conserved, and implementing existing commitments could increase this share to approximately 27% by 2030, closing many of the remaining gaps.
However, progress at sea was slower. Only 10% of the sea is officially designated for conservation, and there is a commitment to increase this to only 12% in 2030. Worse, Together for the Ocean’s latest Ocean Protection Gap Report found that only 3.5% of the sea is assessed as effectively protected, with dangerous activities continuing in many areas that should not be restricted.
With only four years left, the world still has a chance to achieve 30×30, which is one of the defining global commitments of this decade. But what will he do to make up for lost time?
For starters, the government should increase funding for nature. Delivering 30×30 would require an estimated $100–180 billion per year, compared to current annual spending of $24 billion. But, again, this spending represents an investment, not just an expense. Achieving 30×30 could add up to $450 billion to annual global GDP by 2050 and support an estimated 4-7 million jobs.
Policymakers at all levels must move quickly from talking about solutions to implementing them. By May 2026, 116 countries have submitted commitments to protect up to 27% of land area and inland water. But many have yet to follow through on a plan that is mapped out, funded, and financed. Commitment alone will not protect nature.
Protecting the rest of the planet is only part of the challenge. Governments must also ensure that protected and conservation areas are managed well, provide tangible benefits, and preserve biodiversity. That requires long-term funding arrangements that can endure through changing economic and political cycles.
It cannot be denied that the global outlook is uncertain. Wars in the Middle East and Ukraine have prompted governments to increase defense spending and focus more on economic growth. But it would be a mistake to put nature on the back burner. Protecting natural systems is not just for bees. An investment in the future is an investment in ourselves.