COP17: Yerevan Declaration adopted following leaders’ summit

The leaders’ summit held in Yerevan on 16 October as part of COP17 concluded with the adoption of the “Yerevan Declaration: Taking Action for Nature”. The declaration emphasises the need to strengthen international cooperation on biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration and nature protection.

Yerevan Declaration Taking Action for Nature

We, the Heads of State and Government participating in the Leaders for Nature Summit, together with representatives of international organizations, indigenous peoples and local communities, women, youth, business and finance, civil society, academia and other stakeholders, gathered in Yerevan on 16 October 2026, on the eve of the United Nations Biodiversity Conference,

Recognizing that biodiversity and the ecosystem functions and services that it provides are the foundation of life on Earth and underpin healthy and resilient terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems, including ocean, glaciers and mountain ecosystems, and therefore food security, climate resilience, sustainable development, human health, cultural heritage, economic prosperity, peace and the well-being and livelihoods of present and future generations,

Reaffirming our commitment to the Convention on Biological Diversity and to the effective implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework by fulfilling the Framework mission of halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030 and achieving its vision of living in harmony with nature by 2050,

Welcoming the growing global mobilization for biodiversity in recent years, while recognizing that the first global report on the implementation of the Framework demonstrates that collective efforts and progress remain insufficient and that accelerated implementation is urgently needed, including through enhanced international cooperation, strengthened actions and enhanced means of implementation,

Recognizing that the first global review of collective progress in the implementation of the Framework offers a valuable opportunity to identify gaps, strengthen collective learning and inform our common efforts towards the full achievement of the goals and targets of the Framework,

Expressing our determination to transform commitments into measurable actions and lasting results at all levels,

Commit to strengthening national implementation through whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches, including through integrated planning, effective environmental governance and sustained political leadership, enhancing the effective conservation, restoration, management and sustainable use of terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine ecosystems, including ocean and mountain ecosystems, progressively raising ambition and accelerating action where collective progress remains insufficient, mainstreaming biodiversity across public policies and economic sectors and promoting policy coherence in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in accordance with national circumstances, priorities and capabilities;

Underline the need for mobilization of increased, adequate, predictable, timely and accessible public and private finance for biodiversity from all sources, including by creating fiscal space through putting in place catalytic incentives for nature-based solutions and/or ecosystem-based approaches, strengthening capacity-building, scientific and technical cooperation, access to and transfer of technology, and innovation, while enhancing international partnerships and cooperation to support implementation in developing countries, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States among them;

Commit to strengthening monitoring, planning, reporting and review, improving biodiversity data and knowledge systems, promoting science-based decision-making and the responsible use of innovative technology, while recognizing the traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous peoples and local communities with their free, prior and informed consent, as appropriate;

Highlight the need to strengthen the meaningful, full and effective participation and contributions of indigenous peoples and local communities, women, youth, subnational governments, cities and other local authorities, academia, civil society, the business and finance community and other stakeholders for the achievement of the 2030 mission and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework;

Commit to promoting and incentivizing sustainable production and consumption patterns and approaches that contribute to halting and reversing biodiversity loss across all sectors of economy and finance;

Underscore the need to step up efforts to ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources, including through the Multilateral Mechanism for the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits from the Use of Digital Sequence Information on Genetic Resources, Including the Cali Fund;

Emphasize the importance of maximizing synergies and improving policy coherence among the Rio conventions, other multilateral environmental agreements and the wider United Nations system in support of more effective and efficient implementation of the Framework and associated environmental commitments;

Look forward to the first global review of collective progress in the implementation of the Framework as an important milestone for strengthening transparency, accountability and collective learning, addressing implementation gaps, promoting effective solutions and accelerating collective action towards achieving the 2030 global targets and the 2050 vision of living in harmony with nature;

Emphasize the need for an effective and result-oriented outcome on a clear pathway in Yerevan for the accelerated implementation of the Framework and the achievement of its 23 targets, and call upon the United Nations Biodiversity Conference to reflect the political vision and commitments contained in the present declaration in its deliberations and outcomes.

As global leaders, we send a clear message of determination, ambition and hope. Biodiversity loss is one of the major challenges of our time, but addressing it presents an unprecedented opportunity to transform humanity’s relationship with nature and build a more sustainable, resilient and equitable future. The health and integrity of the Earth require urgent and collective action. By acting together, with renewed ambition, solidarity and resolve, we can make this decisive decade a turning point for biodiversity and for present and future generations. This is a call upon all Governments, international organizations, international financial institutions, the private sector, indigenous peoples and local communities, civil society, women, youth and all stakeholders to translate commitments into concrete action, stronger partnerships and accelerated implementation, ensuring that collective efforts deliver lasting results for people, the planet and prosperity.