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Armenian Environment Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan said the biodiversity crisis demanded political leadership, which must translate into concrete action. That, he said, was the purpose of the Leaders for Nature Summit.
Matevosyan made the remarks at the leaders’ summit on biodiversity held in Yerevan on 16 October.
“I would like to begin by highlighting the leadership of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, whose support has been decisive in making this summit possible, and by thanking all of you for your presence, commitment and contribution,” the minister said.
Matevosyan said the summit, held immediately before COP17, offered an opportunity to strengthen political commitment, set strategic directions and give impetus to the work ahead.
He said the Global Biodiversity Framework had been agreed.
“Our task now is to accelerate its implementation and ensure that commitments are translated into measurable results. COP17 will begin here in Yerevan on 18 October. The conference will address issues crucial to the next phase of global action for biodiversity conservation, including finance, monitoring, capacity-building, technology, cooperation and benefit-sharing, as well as the first global review of collective progress in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework,” he said.
According to the minister, the global review would help establish where things stood, record progress and identify gaps requiring greater attention. However, the review must lead to action. Matevosyan said practical pathways were needed to close those gaps and accelerate implementation.
“This is the approach underpinning the Yerevan Pathway for implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to connect the lessons drawn from the global review with stronger cooperation, practical solutions and accelerated action.
“We are also encouraged by the interest expressed by several countries in exploring the possibility of establishing a Species Recovery Action Coalition, with a particular focus on translating the ambitions of Target 4 into practical and measurable action. This is precisely the kind of cooperation focused on implementation that we seek to encourage through COP17: bringing countries together, sharing expertise and experience, and delivering tangible results for nature conservation,” Matevosyan said.
He added that biodiversity was fundamental to economies, societies and security. Protecting nature was therefore inseparable from development: it was a prerequisite for resilient economies, food and water security, human well-being and sustainable development.
He said leaders had been brought together for nature. Their responsibility now was to carry that spirit into COP17 and continue the work beyond it.
“Let us send a clear message to COP17 and the whole world: political commitment must be accompanied by action, and action must deliver tangible results,” Matevosyan concluded.