LONDON, 22 August. - (ANA) - The bi-annual UN biodiversity summit, CBD COP17, will take place in October in Armenia. Nicola Sorsby and Barbara Lassen discuss why this conference is a pivotal moment for global action to reverse biodiversity loss.

 

 

 

 

In October, the city of Yerevan in Armenia will host the 17th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity – also known as CBD COP17. The conference is crucial to addressing progress on the implementation of the global biodiversity framework (GBF) – the landmark policy instrument agreed in 2022 to halt and reverse global biodiversity loss by 2030.

 

COP17 marks the halfway point for GBF implementation, with the first global review of progress (PDF) against the 23 GBF targets expected to dominate the negotiations.

 

The key message from the draft review is clear: although the GBF has sparked unprecedented global commitment to taking action on biodiversity, the world is not on track to achieve the 2030 targets.

 

Given the global decline in biodiversity, ecosystems and species – accelerating faster than at any time in human history (PDF) – it is more urgent than ever that policymakers, governments and the whole of society turn these targets into action.

 

The conference takes place a month before the corresponding climate conference – UNFCCC COP31 – in Antalya, reminding us that promoting synergies between the UN conventions is critical for meaningful progress: the GBF targets can only be achieved if climate policy action also supports biodiversity outcomes.

 

 

 

 

International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) will be at COP17 advocating for this overarching key message: biodiversity action, finance and implementation across all the GBF targets must be locally led, rights-based, gender-responsive and inclusive.

 

It is vital to recognise the critical role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, their traditional knowledge and their cultural values, in protecting biodiversity across all the targets.   - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/22 August 2026 - - -