Conserve 30% of Land, Waters and Seas
Ensure and enable that by 2030 at least 30 per cent of terrestrial and inland water areas, and of marine and coastal areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, are effectively conserved and managed through ecologically representative, well-connected and equitably governed systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, recognizing Indigenous and traditional territories, where applicable, and integrated into wider landscapes, seascapes and the ocean, while ensuring that any sustainable use, where appropriate in such areas, is fully consistent with conservation outcomes, recognizing and respecting the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, including over their traditional territories.
Letting Nature Live
A defining trait of complex systems—like our planet’s biodiversity—is their ability to self-regulate. They are dynamic, ever-evolving, and astonishingly smart. For 3.5 billion years, life on Earth has been fine-tuning the equation of survival.
But in just the past 200 years, everything has shifted. The human population has surged from 1 billion to 8 billion, placing unprecedented pressure on ecosystems. Habitats are vanishing, resources are being stripped, and CO₂ emissions are soaring.
Yet population size isn’t the core issue—it’s how we behave. Industrialization and the relentless extraction of fossil fuels have given us unchecked power to shape the world—and to unravel it. We’ve polluted air and water, destroyed habitats, and pushed species to the brink of extinction.
It’s disheartening that a species capable of such brilliance and beauty has become so destructive. We’ve turned our backs on harmony and elegance. When did the pursuit of profit replace the pursuit of meaningful lives?
Still, hope remains. Every second, the sun delivers an unimaginable amount of energy to Earth, fueling a vast, self-sustaining web of life. This force is unstoppable—if we allow it the space to thrive. But there are limits, and tipping points we cannot afford to cross.
One-third. That’s the share of Earth we must conserve to secure a future of balance, beauty, and abundance. Target 3—also known as 30x30—calls for protecting 30% of our land, waters, and seas by 2030. The time to act is now.