Public strongly backs aim of 30% of land and sea set aside for nature, poll finds

Survey of eight countries finds 82% of people support 30x30 biodiversity target, as progress stalls on protected areas

Much of the world favours protecting 30% of the world's land and water for nature by 2030, according to new research that has found overwhelming public support for the goal across eight countries on five continents.

Nearly 200 nations agreed in 2022 to set aside 30% of the world's land and 30% of marine areas for nature. But just 17.6% of the world's land and 8.6% of the seas are now under global protection, and more than 100 nations are less than halfway to meeting the target, which was established under the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.