COP17 high-level segment focuses on biodiversity policy and financing

The high-level segment of the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity opened with a plenary session attended by ministers and heads of delegations.

Armenian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Robert Abisoghomonyan told reporters that the discussions focus on policy priorities for biodiversity conservation and financing issues.

He said that two panel discussions are planned as part of the high-level segment. The first is dedicated to policy issues related to biodiversity conservation, while the second focuses on biodiversity financing.

The plenary session will continue on October 28 with national statements by countries.

“We have around 150 high-level participants from the Parties, as well as around 50 high-level participants from international organizations,” Abisoghomonyan said, adding that, in addition to the plenary discussions, ministers are also participating in numerous side events.

The Deputy FM said that launch ceremonies for COP17 Presidency initiatives are also scheduled for these two days. He recalled that an initiative to replace incentives that negatively affect biodiversity with positive incentives was launched on October 26.

On the morning of October 27, the establishment of a biodiversity technology hub was also announced.

He said that, to assess progress in implementing commitments in the field of biodiversity, countries need to submit reports, the preparation of which requires the collection and processing of large amounts of data.

“Modern technologies and artificial intelligence need to be used for data collection. Armenia has initiated this process jointly with a number of partners. We hope it will be sustained and that we will be able to implement it, especially in developing countries, which face major difficulties in collecting data and submitting proper reports,” he said.

According to Abisoghomonyan, the initiative may also contribute to the first review of progress in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and to addressing the gaps identified by 2030.

Asked what he considers the main achievement of Armenia’s presidency to be at the end of the ministerial conference, Abisoghomonyan said it was difficult to single out one result, given the scale of the discussions and the diversity of initiatives.

“During this period, we have discussed more than 50 documents, held more than 400 side events and dozens of parallel events, as well as advanced our four initiatives. Each of them contributes to addressing the challenges facing the sector. The ‘Yerevan Call for Action’ initiative is also being discussed now. It is included in the draft decision and aims to provide countries with a roadmap for carrying out further work. One of the initiative’s goals is also to ensure a continuous process of addressing the issues and challenges facing the field of biodiversity,” he added.

Asked whether representatives of Armenia’s neighboring countries are participating in the high-level segment, Abisoghomonyan said that Georgia is represented at the conference at the level of its Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, while Türkiye is represented at the level of its Deputy Minister of Environment.