Armenia ready to lead CBD processes with 'transparent, inclusive, and ambitious approach,’ says environment minister

In Rome, within the framework of the 6th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity, an informational event presenting Armenia's upcoming presidency was organized at the initiative of the delegation of the Republic of Armenia. Armenian Minister of Environment Hambardzum Matevosyan said on social media that the event provided a platform to present Armenia’s approaches as the next presiding party of the conference and the main directions of the preparatory work for the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), to be held in Yerevan in 2026.

"During the event, I delivered a speech emphasizing that Armenia is ready to lead the processes under the Convention with a transparent, inclusive, and ambitious approach, based on close cooperation and a shared sense of responsibility. The conference to be held in Yerevan should serve as a genuine catalyst for action, turning international commitments into measurable results. I highlighted a key outcome of the conference—the first comprehensive assessment of progress toward achieving the 2030 global biodiversity targets. This assessment should provide a clear understanding of what has already been accomplished, where challenges and gaps remain, and which practical steps are needed to accelerate progress. In this context, I stressed the importance of countries submitting their national reports on time, so that the overall assessment is based on complete and reliable data. I also emphasized the importance of financing: achieving biodiversity conservation goals requires sufficient, accessible, and predictable financial resources, and Armenia is ready to work with partners to coordinate various approaches and find practical solutions. Special attention was given to the role of Indigenous peoples and local communities participating in the conference, recognizing them as essential partners in nature conservation. I spoke about the necessity of fully incorporating their knowledge and experience, as well as ensuring that work in this area is effective and participatory, with tangible results as the ultimate goal," the minister said on social media. 

Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Robert Abisoghomonyan, Armenian Ambassador to Italy Vladimir Karapetyan, COP17 Special Envoy Mher Margaryan, and Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, also participated in the meeting.

"During the discussions at the event, attention was also drawn to the fact that biodiversity loss is closely linked to climate change, land degradation, and pollution. For this reason, Armenia emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation across different environmental agendas to maximize the impact of solutions. Several organizational initiatives were also presented at the event, including the conference’s visual symbol (logo), updates on the progress of preparatory work, and the idea of holding a Leaders’ Summit on biodiversity in Yerevan. We concluded the event with a clear message: it is time to take action for nature, so that global commitments translate into real change—for the benefit of people and the safe future of nature," Matevosyan added.