Governments around the world spend an estimated US$500 billion every year on subsidies that harm biodiversity — from agriculture and energy to fisheries and infrastructure. While these subsidies often aim to support food security, jobs, or economic growth, many unintentionally damage ecosystems and undermine long-term prosperity.
Under Target 18 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, countries committed to reforming and progressively reducing harmful incentives by 2030.
In this video, UNDP’s Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) explains how countries can identify, assess, and redesign subsidies to make them fiscally responsible and nature-positive, using a practical step-by-step methodology. The approach ensures reforms are fair, people-centred, and aligned with both biodiversity and climate goals.
Redirecting harmful subsidies isn’t just an environmental priority — it’s smart economic policy.
