In 2026, Armenia will adopt COP17
With 65 votes, Armenia has been chosen to adopt the Conference of the Parties on Biological Diversity. This announcement was made by the Minister of Environment, Hakob Simidyan.
The Convention on Biological Diversity entered into force on December 29, 1993, with three main objectives: conserving biological diversity, sustainably using its components, and fairly distributing benefits arising from genetic resources.
Since 2000, following a regulatory change, the conference has been held every two years. The sixteenth conference (COP 16) is currently being held in Cali, Colombia, from October 21 to November 1, 2024.
President Vahagn Khachaturyan of Armenia delivered a speech at the official opening of the high-level discussions of the 16th Conference of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
In his speech, the President noted:
Hosting COP17 in Armenia will be an excellent opportunity to advance multilateral efforts for global biodiversity protection, ensuring diverse voices and perspectives are heard through multi-stakeholder engagement, as well as showcasing Armenia’s and the region’s natural treasures.