Biodiversity COP17 Opens in Armenia to Address Global Nature Loss
YEREVAN, Oct 19: The 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17) opens here in Armenia, bringing together representatives of the convention’s 196 parties to assess progress in addressing biodiversity loss.
The official opening ceremony of COP17 was held on Sunday, with the participation of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Environment Minister and COP17 President Hambardzum Matevosyan, international delegations and partners.
Running from Oct 19 to 30 under the theme “Taking Action for Nature”, the conference will conduct the first global review of collective progress towards the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), adopted in 2022 to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.
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The review will draw on national biodiversity strategies, targets and reports to assess implementation of the framework’s four goals and 23 targets. It is expected to identify gaps, uneven progress and barriers, while highlighting measures needed to accelerate action over the remaining years to 2030.
A delegation of the Asociación Interétnica de Desarrollo de la Selva Peruana (AIDESEP), Peru’s principal national organisation representing Indigenous peoples of the Amazon, is also attending the conference.
The organisation advocates for Indigenous peoples’ collective rights, territorial protection, self-determined development and cultural survival.Key agenda items include strengthening biodiversity monitoring, improving national planning and reporting systems, and mobilising financial resources for conservation.
Delegates are also expected to discuss capacity-building, scientific and technical cooperation, technology transfer and ways to align financial flows with nature-positive outcomes.
The conference will address protected and conserved areas, ecosystem restoration and the sustainable use of biodiversity, alongside the rights and leadership of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in conservation efforts. A high-level segment scheduled for Oct 27 and 28 is expected to build political support for stronger implementation of the global framework.
The meetings of the parties to the Cartagena and Nagoya protocols will also take place alongside COP17. These separate processes, known as COP-MOP12 and COP-MOP6, respectively, form part of the international biodiversity governance system and address issues covered by the two protocols.
As host and COP17 president, Armenia is responsible for facilitating dialogue, building understanding and helping parties reach consensus while maintaining neutrality and impartiality. The presidency’s role extends beyond the conference itself, as countries will need to translate decisions into concrete action.
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The meeting comes at a critical point in the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal framework, with four years remaining until the 2030 deadline. Its outcome will help determine whether international commitments are being translated into measurable national progress, adequate financing and more effective protection of ecosystems.
