Genetic diversity among and within populations of all species is necessary for people and the planet to survive in a changing world. Over the past three years, the conservation of genetic diversity has received increased ambition and specificity in commitments under the draft Convention on Biological Diversity’s (CBD) post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. This perspective article comments on how CBD goals and targets have evolved, what improvements are still needed, lessons learned from this process, and connections between goals and targets and the actions and reporting that will be needed to maintain, protect, manage and monitor genetic diversity.