COP17’s second week must show political commitment can translate into action, says Hambardzum Matevosyan
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The first week of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity has demonstrated what multilateral cooperation can achieve.
COP17 President and Armenian Environment Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan said this at a press conference held during COP17.
He said the parties had adopted important decisions during the conference’s first week on biosafety, invasive alien species, gender issues, education and information exchange. Matevosyan also welcomed the financial commitments made by investors.
“Biodiversity conservation cannot remain the sole responsibility of environment ministries. It must become an integral part of the decisions shaping our economies, national budgets and investments. We must turn global ambitions into practical cooperation,” he said.
According to the minister, around 70 ministers, 40 deputy ministers, heads of international organisations and approximately 1,500 participants are expected to attend COP17’s high-level segment. Matevosyan said the Armenian presidency would present four key initiatives this week, aimed at protecting mountain and freshwater ecosystems, advancing effective area-based conservation, strengthening biodiversity monitoring through technology, and reforming harmful incentives while scaling up positive ones.
“One of COP17’s objectives is to establish partnerships and mechanisms that will deliver long-term results beyond the conference. We must translate the findings of the first global review of progress on biodiversity into a broader global policy response. This is the purpose of our proposed ‘Yerevan Pathway’: to connect the assessment of progress with practical solutions,” Matevosyan said.
He noted that important negotiations still lay ahead and that the Armenian presidency would continue working with all parties to overcome differences, build agreement and help achieve balanced outcomes.
“The first week showed that cooperation can deliver progress. The second week must show that political commitment can translate into concrete action. Ultimately, COP17 will be judged by the long-term results we achieve together after the conference, rather than the number of statements made in Yerevan. This is our responsibility, and this is the ambition of the Armenian presidency: to take action for nature,” the minister added.