COP17 in Yerevan: world leaders open the first global check-up on nature targets
UN chief António Guterres joined a 'Leaders for Nature' summit in Armenia ahead of the October 19–30 biodiversity conference, where countries will review progress on the 2030 goals.
At a glance
- Yerevan hosted the 'Leaders for Nature' summit on October 16; the main COP17 conference runs October 19–30.
- COP17 will hold the first global review of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted in 2022.
- The framework aims to mobilise at least $200 billion a year for biodiversity by 2030.
- The summit is expected to adopt a political declaration on conserving and restoring nature.
Armenia's capital became the centre of global environmental diplomacy this week as heads of state and government gathered for a "Leaders for Nature" summit on Friday, October 16, the political opening act for the UN biodiversity conference, COP17.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres travelled to Yerevan for the summit and held talks with Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, his office said.
The first global report card
The main conference, the 17th meeting of the parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, runs from October 19 to 30 at Yerevan's Meridian Expo Center. Its central task is the first global review of how countries are doing against the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the landmark deal adopted at COP15 in 2022 to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030.
That framework includes a goal of mobilising at least $200 billion a year for biodiversity from all sources by 2030. Closing the gap between promises and funding is expected to dominate negotiations.
What else is on the table
The agenda also covers digital sequence information on genetic resources, synthetic biology, protected areas, forest biodiversity, gender equality, and the links between nature and climate change, farming, health and the oceans. Two meetings of protocols under the convention take place alongside the main talks.
A political anchor
Armenia's foreign ministry has described the leaders' summit as a political anchor for COP17, meant to lift biodiversity to the top of the global agenda without replacing the formal high-level segment. It is expected to end with a political declaration recommitting governments, businesses, scientists, Indigenous peoples and local communities to conserve and restore nature.
Unlike climate summits, biodiversity COPs rarely make global headlines. Organisers hope Yerevan's stocktake — a reality check four years before the 2030 deadline — changes that.
Questions people are asking
How is COP17 different from the climate COP?
COP17 belongs to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity and focuses on protecting species, ecosystems and the living world, while climate COPs fall under the UN climate convention and focus on emissions.
What is the Kunming-Montreal framework?
A global agreement adopted at COP15 in 2022 that sets targets to halt and reverse nature loss by 2030, including financing goals of at least $200 billion a year from all sources.
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