Why 30x30?

In order to address both the biodiversity crisis and the climate crisis, there is growing scientific research that half of the planet must be kept in a natural state. Some papers have suggested that the number should be even higher, and some have suggested slightly lower. Despite this, experts agree that a scientifically credible and necessary interim goal is to achieve a minimum of 30% protection by 2030.

There is a wealth of scientific data documenting the need for increased spatial targets in order to help achieve goals related to biodiversity conservation, which help justify the 30x30 target both at a global level and a regional level.

When the Aichi Targets were established in 2010, roughly 13% of the world’s terrestrial areas were protected while very few protections existed in the ocean.

Currently, an estimated 15% of the world’s land and 7% of the ocean are protected. In order to achieve the goal of protecting at least 30% by 2030, we'll need to double the current land protections and more than quadruple current ocean protections.

Photographs by Daniil Silantev, Unsplash (Banner); Deogratias Saidi, Unsplash (Aichi Targets).