Armenia to host UN COP17 biodiversity summit in Yerevan

Armenia is set to host the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Yerevan from October 19 to 30. The summit aims to address the halting of biodiversity loss and nature conservation. A Biodiversity Leaders Summit is scheduled to precede the main event on October 16.

Silva Adamyan, president of the environmental NGO Bird Lovers Center, noted that COP meetings are often held in countries facing significant environmental challenges. She emphasized that civil society must play a major role in representing biodiversity issues, expressing concern that government bodies may not fully present global environmental challenges during the conference.