Two years ago, we launched The Nature Conservancy’s 2030 Goals—a set of clear, measurable targets to guide our work in this critical decade for our planet. They are the most ambitious goals we have ever set, and by working together, we are on the right path to achieve them.
I know this because of the incredible creativity, collaboration, passion and hard work I have witnessed over the past year— even in the face of big challenges. The growing consequences of the biodiversity and climate crises—extreme temperatures, devastating flooding, historic wildfires and global food shortages, to name just a few—make the importance of success feel greater than ever.
Yet everywhere I look I also see signs of hope and progress.
In the U.S., for example, our teams influenced the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which is driving unprecedented investments in climate and clean energy. In multiple countries, we launched new tools to help accelerate a renewable-energy buildout that also safeguards nature. And at this year’s U.N. Climate Conference, we worked with partners to ensure that nature is front and center as countries and companies turn their climate pledges into action. These bright spots are collectively bringing TNC closer to our goal of avoiding or sequestering 3 billion metric tons of carbon emissions annually.
We also continue to make good progress toward our land protection goal, which calls for conserving 650 million hectares—or 1.6 billion acres—an area twice the size of India. This will take new levels of partnership, and that’s why we are proud to work with World Wildlife Fund, The Pew Charitable Trusts and ZOMALAB on an unprecedented collaboration called Enduring Earth. By 2030, Enduring Earth aims to protect more than half a billion hectares in partnership with at least 20 nations. And we are off to a strong start. At the December meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity—where nearly every country around the world committed to protect 30% of their lands and waters by 2030—the governments of Gabon and Mongolia announced their intentions to work with TNC and our Enduring Earth partners to implement their ambitious goals. And in a historic announcement, Canada committed to the largest-ever public-private investment in Indigenous led conservation, which will advance large-scale projects with support from TNC, our Canadian affiliate Nature United and the Enduring Earth collaboration.
In the marine realm, we worked with the government of Barbados in September to close the third transaction in our Blue Bonds for Ocean Conservation strategy, one of our signature efforts contributing to our goal of helping conserve 4 billion hectares of ocean—more than 10% of the world’s ocean area. The deal refinances a portion of the country’s sovereign debt, freeing up approximately $50 million that will support the expansion of its marine protected areas from virtually zero to 30% of its marine habitat. There is a huge opportunity right now to support countries’ conservation and climate ambitions by refinancing their sovereign debt, and TNC is uniquely positioned to help people and nature through this approach.
For our freshwater goal, we aim to conserve 1 million kilometers of rivers and 30 million hectares of wetlands and lakes. This year, we launched new water funds in Argentina and Kenya, bringing our total to 43 funds in 13 countries. Designed to help downstream water users invest in upstream conservation to improve water quality and quantity, water funds are one of our signature tools for building resilient watersheds.
Our 2030 Goals also aim to help 100 million people at severe risk of climate-related emergencies and support the leadership of more than 45 million people from local and Indigenous communities, whose well-being and livelihoods depend on nature.
Never has the urgency of supporting our conservation partners been more clear, as local and Indigenous communities have shown tremendous leadership in the future of the planet. I was proud to spend time with many communities on the frontlines of the climate and biodiversity crises over the past year. From the grasslands of Mongolia to the temperate rainforests of Canada, I learned from partners about how we can support their visions for Indigenous and community led conservation.
When I look back on these highlights, it’s clear that we cannot achieve our 2030 Goals alone. It will take partnerships across sectors and geographies. It will take elevating the leadership of the people who are best positioned to take action. And, of course, it will take our incredible community of supporters. Thank you for being part of that community, and for your generous gifts of your time, resources and partnership as together, we find a way.
Jennifer Morris
Chief Executive Officer, The Nature Conservancy
