Yerevan hosted the international conference “Road to COP17”, marking Armenia’s growing role in the global biodiversity agenda and preparations for the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

The conference was organized by the Ministry of Environment of Armenia and the AUA Acopian Center for the Environment, with the support of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the European Union, the German Government, the UN Development Programme (UNDP), and partner organizations.

Deputy Minister Aram Meymaryan highlighted that Armenia approaches COP17 “not merely as a host country, but as a nation with a clear vision and a dignified role in shaping global environmental policy.”

Ms. Elka Steinmetz, Head of Division of International Cooperation on Biodiversity at the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN), emphasized inclusiveness and collaboration, noting that “the road to COP17 is a truly inclusive process” and that the partnership with Armenia has reached “a new and higher level.”

Mr. Václav Štěrba, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Armenia, reaffirmed the EU’s strong commitment to biodiversity, stating that alignment with EU environmental policy by 2026 “will be a great success for all of us.”

The conference brought together representatives from government, international organizations, academia, civil society, and the private sector to discuss biodiversity conservation, landscape restoration, nature-based agriculture, ecosystem services, and innovative mechanisms for biodiversity financing. Speakers included representatives from the CBD Secretariat, UNEP, UNDP, the BIOFIN Initiative, the World Bank Armenia Office, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and other partner organizations.

The event showcased Armenia’s experience in priorities in biodiversity protection and ecosystem restoration and commitment to advancing global environmental cooperation.