Armenia seeks to host UN Climate Change Conference following COP17

The 2027 state budget draft envisages a total of 13.1 billion drams for 24 activities under six budget programs implemented by the Ministry of Environment.

This is approximately 2.5 billion drams less than the approved 2026 budget.

Environment Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan announced during a joint session of the parliamentary committees that the budget reduction is due to the completion of international grant programs and the scheduled implementation of those programs, as well as the completion of organizational work for COP17.

Referring to Armenia’s hosting of COP17, the minister noted that the country is also continuing work to host the UN Climate Change Conference (COP).

He said he is traveling to Türkiye to attend the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31).

“Among the biodiversity COPs, the one held in Armenia was, by various assessments, the best-organized COP. In terms of ministerial participation and substance, it was the most challenging COP, with the most extensive agenda. This was a very important achievement,” Matevosyan said.

According to him, the COP17 Blue Zone received up to 7,000-8,000 visitors daily, while the number of visitors to the Green Zone exceeded 50,000, according to preliminary data.

“17,000 delegates were actually registered in the Blue Zone alone. If we exclude the Armenian delegates, we can say that we certainly had 15,000 visitors,” the minister added.

On October 22, speaking to journalists, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, referring to Armenia’s hosting of the COP17 biodiversity conference, said that Armenia might consider hosting the UN Climate Change Conference as well.