Nearly 200 countries are convening in Armenia on Monday for international biodiversity negotiations aimed at reviving stalled commitments under a major global treaty to halt environmental destruction by 2030.
The summit, known as COP17, comes four years after governments agreed to the landmark pact to protect 30 percent of the planet's land and oceans and curb harmful commercial subsidies. However, an official United Nations assessment released ahead of the talks warned that progress toward the 23 targets remains uneven and too slow to hit the end-of-decade deadline.
Speaking ahead of the formal talks in Yerevan, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan acknowledged the shortfall in meeting earlier commitments. “We must honestly admit that collectively, we are not yet on track as needed,” Pashinyan said on Friday.
Attendance by prominent world leaders has been limited, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres joined primarily by heads of state from neighbouring Central Asian nations. Guterres condemned continuing state backing for extractive industries and fossil fuels, urging governments to rapidly change course. “Subsidising fossil fuels is subsidising suicide,” Guterres told delegates.
Funding disputes are expected to dominate the two-week conference. The UN assessment noted that financing for global conservation falls far short of required amounts. Wealthy countries have pushed major emerging economies such as China to provide biodiversity aid, but negotiators are also expected to explore ways to attract private capital and persuade corporations to contribute profits to a depleted UN conservation fund for developing states.
Armenia is hosting one of the largest international gatherings in its history, with thousands of participants arriving amid global economic strain, geopolitical rivalries and energy sector challenges. Conservation advocates have emphasised that the talks must focus on carrying out existing pledges rather than creating new frameworks.
“The world does not need a new vision. We have one. What it needs is delivery,” said Adil Najam, global president of WWF International, during pre-summit discussions.
