World Biodiversity Day 2026
May 22 is World Biodiversity Day, established by the United Nations to celebrate biodiversity—the richness of life at the level of ecosystems, species, and genes—on our planet.
The date of May 22 was chosen by the United Nations in 2000 to commemorate the official adoption of the text of the Convention on Biological Diversity, which took place in Nairobi on May 22, 1992.
The Convention on Biological Diversity pursues three main objectives: the conservation of biological diversity; the sustainable use of its components; and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of these genetic resources, especially in cases of economic exploitation.
- https://www.isprambiente.gov.it/en/news/world-biodiversity-day-2026
- World Biodiversity Day 2026
- 2026-05-22T00:00:00+02:00
- 2026-05-22T23:59:59+02:00
- May 22 is World Biodiversity Day , established by the United Nations to celebrate biodiversity—the richness of life at the level of ecosystems, species, and genes—on our planet. The date of May 22 was chosen by the United Nations in 2000 to commemorate the official adoption of the text of the Convention on Biological Diversity , which took place in Nairobi on May 22, 1992. The Convention on Biological Diversity pursues three main objectives: the conservation of biological diversity; the sustainable use of its components; and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of these genetic resources, especially in cases of economic exploitation.
- When May 22, 2026 (Europe/Berlin / UTC200)
-
Add event to calendar
iCal
The official theme for 2026 is “Acting locally for global impact.”
This message highlights a fundamental principle: success in halting and reversing nature loss on a global scale depends heavily on actions taken at the local level.
This year’s goal is to connect individual initiatives by communities, cities, businesses, and youth organizations with the 23 global targets outlined in the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
The Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is a landmark international agreement adopted in December 2022 during COP15 (the 15th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity). The agreement represents the global emergency action plan to halt and reverse biodiversity loss.
The framework is structured around four global goals for 2050 (covering ecosystem conservation, sustainable resource use, fair sharing of genetic benefits, and financial resources) and 23 operational targets to be achieved by 2030.
The core of the agreement is the 30x30 target. By 2030, signatory countries have committed to:
- Effectively protect and conserve at least 30% of terrestrial and inland water areas.
- Protect at least 30% of marine and coastal areas.
- Restore at least 30% of degraded ecosystems.
The 4 global goals for 2050
The framework establishes four long-term goals to achieve the global vision of “living in harmony with nature” by mid-century:
- Conservation: Halt human-induced species extinction, reducing extinction risk and maintaining ecosystem integrity.
- Sustainable Use: Manage and use natural resources in a way that ensures they continue to provide essential services for humanity (clean air, water, fertile soil).
- Equity: Ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources (for example, in the development of medicines or crops).
- Financing: Secure adequate financial and technological resources, especially for developing countries, to implement environmental protection policies.
This year’s celebration carries particular significance. It is now 2026, which means we are exactly halfway between the adoption of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022) and the 2030 deadline for achieving its targets.
