Category: News

Using common, science-based standards to assess the state of nature could help companies identify their impacts on nature, assess their dependence on natural systems and understand the associated financial risks and business opportunities. These issues were discussed at a press conference held during COP17.

Participants included Marco Lambertini, Convenor of the Nature Positive Initiative; Tony Goldner, Executive Director of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD); Gemma Parkes, Head of Communications at the Nature Positive Initiative; and Ross Barton, Senior Manager in EY’s Climate Change and Sustainability Services.

The speakers said demand for clear, comparable data on the state of nature was growing amid biodiversity loss, deforestation, pollution and pressure on water resources. Such data are important both for environmental accountability and for companies’ strategic decisions, risk management and long-term sustainability.

Marco Lambertini presented the Nature Positive Initiative’s work to develop common, scientifically grounded metrics for assessing the state of nature.

He said businesses and financial institutions increasingly need to understand both the scale of nature loss and its effects on the economy, society and human well-being. This requires a common measurement methodology that enables changes to be assessed, results compared and responsibility taken for improving the state of nature.

The initiative’s proposed system includes four core metrics: ecosystem extent, ecosystem condition, species extinction risk and species population status.

These metrics make it possible to assess whether ecosystems are being conserved and expanded or are deteriorating. They also help determine the importance of particular areas for preventing species extinction and maintaining essential functions of natural systems.

Lambertini said one objective of developing common standards was to align approaches used across different frameworks, enabling companies to use shared metrics for various assessment and reporting purposes.

He said the standards had already been adopted within TNFD and the Science Based Targets Network (SBTN), while other organisations were also considering alignment.

TNFD Executive Director Tony Goldner said the new state-of-nature metrics complement the organisation’s assessment approach, allowing companies to understand more clearly how their activities relate to nature.

He stressed that companies should first identify where their operations and supply chains interact with nature, then assess the environmental condition of those areas. These data can help put companies’ impacts and dependencies on natural systems into context and clarify the resulting risks and opportunities.

Goldner said impacts on nature and dependencies on natural systems can be measured in physical units, such as area or water volume, whereas business risks and opportunities are often expressed in monetary terms. Identifying the connection between environmental data and financial consequences is therefore an important step in assessing companies’ activities.

“TNFD’s LEAP approach helps organisations systematically assess their relationship with nature. It involves locating their interfaces with nature, evaluating impacts and dependencies, analysing risks and opportunities, and preparing to respond,” Goldner stressed.

He said more than 1,100 organisations were already voluntarily disclosing nature-related information. He suggested that investor expectations could increase, particularly in sectors where deforestation, pollution and water use are significant concerns.

Ross Barton, Senior Manager in EY’s Climate Change and Sustainability Services, presented the firm’s involvement in developing and testing the new standards.

He said EY had supported the Nature Positive Initiative for two years, from defining initial threshold metrics through to an international pilot study involving 29 companies. An important part of the work involved translating scientific and technical approaches into practical guidance so businesses could apply the standards.

Barton said these tools should be seen as more than a means of reporting. They can help companies understand whether the natural systems on which their activities depend are at risk of deterioration and use that information in strategic decision-making.

He said assessing the state of nature could support risk management, strengthen business resilience and preserve long-term value. Companies could make better-informed decisions about where to locate their operations and how to conserve and restore natural systems.

Barton also highlighted the role of professional services organisations. They can provide advice to help companies translate scientific standards into practical decisions and offer independent assurance on the reliability of disclosed information.

He said investors and financial institutions need confidence that companies’ data are credible and reflect genuine conservation and restoration outcomes.

During the discussion, the speakers stressed that comparable data on the state of nature could improve the quality of decisions made by companies, investors and financial institutions.

Common standards make it possible to connect environmental changes with economic consequences, identify dependencies and risks, and assess opportunities created through the conservation and restoration of natural systems.

This approach treats the assessment of nature’s condition as both an accountability requirement and a tool for aligning long-term business sustainability with nature conservation goals.

A discussion entitled “Green Standards in the Construction and Operation of Sports Facilities” was held in COP17’s Green Zone at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex.

An Armenpress correspondent spoke about the discussion’s main topic with world and European weightlifting champion Nazik Avdalyan, founding director of the Nazik Avdalyan Sports Development Foundation.

The discussion’s title says a great deal, but could you explain what green standards are and how much of a role they can play in both the construction and subsequent operation of sports facilities?

The discussion focused mainly on a planned sports and education centre that is currently at the design stage. I attach great importance to green standards in this project because, unfortunately, the further technology and equipment advance, the further we move away from nature.

We need to start thinking about how to cause as little harm to nature as possible. I am very pleased that the NAV Sports and Education Centre is being built in accordance with green standards from the outset. It is very important that it causes as little harm to biodiversity as possible.

This will also influence the thinking and values of the children who will train there. I believe facilities like this enhance our country’s standing as one that has chosen a path of sustainable development.

Many of us have followed your sporting career. Your success and achievements owe much to your determination and hard work, but also to supportive coaches and sports schools. Did these experiences inspire the idea of creating a sports centre?

I have lived a life that is important and precious to me. I did not want it simply to pass, remain something that belonged only to me and be recorded merely as a victory.

That desire and dream took shape when I met children living in the regions. I realised how much potential we have there. There are wonderful children with tremendous physical and intellectual abilities who simply need an opportunity.

I have often spoken at schools and sports schools, meeting children and constantly thinking about them. I felt those meetings were not particularly effective: we would visit schools and motivate children, but they lacked suitable facilities, so they would return to their everyday routines and way of life.

My dream became a goal, and I established a foundation to create sports and education centres and sports schools in the regions, giving children the opportunity to take part in sport.

If the sports and education centres I envisage become a reality, within a few years Armenia will become one of the world’s sporting powerhouses.

I hope that happens. Inspiring individuals like you can make a major contribution to it.

I am not alone in working towards that goal and fulfilling my dream. Athletes, the federation, the country, like-minded people and others who seemed to have no connection with sport are standing alongside me and contributing to this work.

I understand that various international partners also took part in the discussion. What did you expect from them, and what response did you receive?

As an athlete, I had heard about green standards, but gaining a complete understanding is difficult. That is where specialists help: you discuss things with them and understand where it all leads. I am very pleased to have met the international specialists who took part in the discussion.

It was a very constructive meeting. It reaffirmed our belief in the need for all this and the importance of having such facilities in the country.

What steps are needed to implement the project?

The project is being implemented with state support. We plan to establish a centre in the Artik area and in other locations as well. We will see how things work out.

Research is under way. We are constantly learning new things and holding discussions. It may be possible to make faster progress in another region. Work continues every day, with new people and specialists continually joining the initiative.

I must also ask about the film made about you. There is a particularly striking scene in which, at the most important moment of your life, you think about the barbell while in church. Ultimately, are athletes born, or does hard work produce the results you have achieved?

I think athletes are born, but not everyone becomes one, because that requires opportunities, suitable conditions and people to guide you. I had those people alongside me.

The film conveyed a very important message: if you want to succeed, you must love your work wholeheartedly and dedicate yourself to it, as I did. I have always had immense respect and love for the barbell and my sport. I feel the same about the work and mission I am pursuing now.

That journey has brought me to where I am today. I have never regarded my victories as an endpoint. I have always thought about what purpose those victories would serve afterwards. I have always asked myself that question. That journey led me to a more important mission and responsibility.

Thank you, Nazik, for accepting our invitation.

My pleasure.

The International Nature Prescribing Alliance (INPA) has officially launched in Armenia during the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17). The alliance aims to support healthcare professionals in expanding the use of nature to improve health worldwide.

The new initiative seeks to broaden nature-based health practices and strengthen cooperation between the healthcare and environmental sectors.

Speaking at the event, the alliance’s founder, Dr Melissa Lem, a family physician and clinical associate professor at the University of British Columbia, said the initiative brings together organisations from healthcare, conservation and related fields to promote nature as a means of preventing illness and maintaining physical and mental health.

Nature prescribing involves a healthcare professional advising or directing a patient to spend a specified amount of time in nature, individually or as part of a group.

“Nature is more than a pleasant place to visit. It is an important means of protecting human and planetary health. Time spent in nature is good medicine,” Melissa Lem stressed. She added that strengthening people’s connection with nature supports their health and well-being while encouraging a responsible attitude towards environmental conservation.

She said the alliance would support greater international cooperation, provide professionals with clinical and research materials, and organise expert events.

Lem also presented Canada’s PaRx programme, a national nature prescribing initiative. She said more than 22,000 healthcare professionals were registered with the programme and more than two million nature prescriptions had been issued.

Dr Andrew Day, Chief Executive Officer of the BC Parks Foundation, also discussed the alliance’s launch. He said highlighting the connection between conservation and healthcare was important in helping people understand nature’s value in their everyday lives.

Day said the expansion of PaRx had demonstrated that contact with nature could help people manage anxiety, depression and other health problems. He also stressed that conservation measures were important for protecting both ecosystems and public health.

Barnaby Coupe, Head of External Affairs at the UK’s Wildlife Trusts, outlined efforts to strengthen the connection between nature and healthcare in the United Kingdom.

He said the UK had an extensive network of local conservation organisations, but nature prescribing was not yet fully integrated into public healthcare policy. Cooperation between conservation and healthcare organisations could help ease pressure on the health service, he noted.

Citing a 2023 economic assessment, Coupe said nature-based health programmes in Wales could deliver benefits worth around £635 million annually to the UK healthcare system. He also drew attention to unequal access to nature, noting that people in more disadvantaged communities often had fewer opportunities to benefit from its health-enhancing effects.

The speakers agreed that expanding access to nature, involving healthcare professionals and developing international cooperation could improve public health while supporting biodiversity conservation.

The International Nature Prescribing Alliance invites healthcare and environmental organisations, healthcare workers and other professionals to join the initiative and contribute to the health of people, communities and the planet.

Sargis Asatryan

The 2026 Young Ecofeminist international awards ceremony took place in COP17’s Green Zone at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex in Yerevan.

The work of those competing for the award brings together biodiversity protection, the study of climate processes, gender equality and social justice. The winners’ work promotes inclusive, rights-based action as a prerequisite for effective biodiversity protection, contributing to a comprehensive response to planetary crises and the protection of human rights.

In his remarks, Ambassador Vassilis Maragos, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, said the winners served as examples both in their own countries and around the world, because what happens in each country affects the entire world.

“I think these awards are an important reminder that you are not alone, we are not alone, and we must cooperate to achieve results. And I believe leadership is about precisely this cooperation. As the European Union’s ambassador to Armenia, I am particularly pleased to see such engagement in biodiversity conservation from civil society, its leaders, young people and organisations defending women’s rights. In Armenia, we work closely with these groups, demonstrating our shared commitment to achieving results,” Maragos said.

He said the EU supported initiatives in Armenia implemented by both civil society and state institutions that brought together biodiversity conservation, environmental sustainability and human rights.

“We will soon launch a new programme in Armenia focusing on bringing together youth- and women-led organisations and green initiatives. We recognise the important role these actors can play in promoting environmental sustainability and bringing positive change to their communities. COP17 is an important opportunity to showcase this work and continue highlighting and discussing local biodiversity initiatives,” Maragos said.

The Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia presented first prize to Sarah Adongo from Uganda. As a legal adviser at Witness Radio Uganda, Sarah participates in legal proceedings concerning sexual violence and the protection of land rights. She supports women who have experienced sexual and gender-based violence, helping them understand and defend their rights, document their cases and acquire the knowledge and confidence to present cases, give testimony and negotiate on behalf of their communities.

Marieke Monroy-Winter, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Netherlands to Armenia, said in her remarks that pluralism requires listening to people who share their own perspectives with the public.

“This is how we enrich ourselves and understand one another. This is how we build peace, something we have also heard about during this wonderful COP17. We will all be interested to hear about your experiences and learn from you. Young ecofeminists can show us the way forward. Biodiversity is a very important subject. It is the foundation of life, and we believe genetic diversity is a very good safeguard for stability. It enables us to respond more effectively to a wide range of situations, whether human-made or natural challenges. We need that diversity,” Monroy-Winter said.

The Dutch ambassador presented second prize to Yemi Knight from Barbados. Yemi is the founder and director of the youth organisation AnchorBridge Environmental and has helped bring about significant changes. These include contributing to the first reform of the Barbados Water Authority, helping improve water access for low-income rural communities.

Anush Nersesyan, a staff member of Armenia’s National Academy of Sciences who holds a Candidate of Sciences degree, said they were working to compile Red Lists of Armenia’s flora.

“We are developing methods to conserve plants both in their natural habitats and at our institute. We collect seeds and preserve them for future generations. We involve many young scientists in all our fieldwork and laboratory work. We greatly welcome the participation of young people—students, doctoral students and young researchers—because issues relating to nature and biodiversity conservation require youthful energy, and people must be encouraged to carry out this work to the highest possible standard,” Nersesyan said.

The National Academy of Sciences researcher presented third prize to Monitte Lantas from the Philippines. At just 24, Monitte has mobilised local communities to defend land and environmental rights, developed a youth-led environmental project and participated in a women’s environmental protection initiative. Her community work focuses on protecting women’s and children’s rights, reproductive health and women’s participation in environmental governance.

Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan has congratulated Dan Neculaescu on his appointment as Romania’s Foreign Minister.

“Sending congratulations to Dan Neculaescu on appointment as FM of Romania, & my best wishes for success. I look forward to working closely on consolidating the strong Armenia-Romania partnership & trusted friendship based on our nations’ shared values & common interests, including Black Sea regional connectivity, ongoing projects of bilateral strategic importance, & Armenia-EU strategic agenda,” Mirzoyan said on X.

In a separate post, Mirzoyan thanked former Foreign Minister Oana Toiu for their close cooperation.

“Dear Oana Toiu, I appreciate our close cooperation during your tenure as FM of Romania in strengthening Armenia-Romania partnership & building an ambitious agenda of strategic importance for the benefit of our countries, both bilaterally & within the framework of deepening Armenia-EU ties,” he said.

The framework agreement between Armenia and the United States on the TRIPP project establishes a new level of economic cooperation while affirming Armenia’s sovereignty and jurisdiction over infrastructure operating under the program, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan told lawmakers.

He presented to MPs at the Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Relations a bill on ratifying the Framework Agreement between the Republic of Armenia and the United States of America on Strategic Cooperation Concerning the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP).

“This is a new level of economic cooperation between Armenia and the United States, one that has never existed before. It is clear that the United States will have a significant involvement and will also pursue its economic interests here,” Mirzoyan said.

According to the minister, the expected benefits for Armenia from implementing the agreement include unblocking the country, expanding connections with the East and West, and creating new opportunities to participate in international transportation. Armenia will have the opportunity not only to export its products and import necessary goods, but also to become an important link in the transportation chain between third countries.

Mirzoyan noted that just as Azerbaijan will have the opportunity to connect with Nakhchivan and third countries through Armenia’s territory and infrastructure, Armenia will likewise have reciprocal opportunities to ensure domestic connectivity through Azerbaijan’s territory and infrastructure and reach third-country markets. In this context, he recalled that Armenia currently has no north–south railway connection in operation.

The minister also emphasized the impact of economic interconnectedness on strengthening peace. In his assessment, both economic ties between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the interests of other countries along the East–West route could positively affect the stability of the political situation.

He identified two main aspects of the project: economic opportunities and the strengthening of peace, stressing that the latter is no less important than the former.

Referring to the process leading up to the agreement, Mirzoyan recalled the August 8, 2025, meeting in Washington attended by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, and U.S. President Donald Trump. The joint declaration adopted at the meeting recorded commitments to strengthen peace and open communications on the basis of the countries’ sovereignty, jurisdiction, and territorial integrity.

At the next stage, on January 13, 2026, the TRIPP Implementation Framework was presented. According to the minister, that document set out more clearly the principles for constructing, reconstructing, and operating infrastructure, dispelling a number of concerns surrounding the project.

The Framework Agreement was initialed on May 26 during U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Yerevan, then signed on June 1 in Washington and on June 4 in Yerevan. According to Mirzoyan, the necessary procedures have been completed, and the Constitutional Court has recognized the obligations enshrined in the agreement as compliant with the Constitution.

The minister explained what work would remain after ratification.

“We must sign the shareholders’ agreement and approve the company’s charter. Perhaps with that, the fundamental paperwork steps necessary to launch TRIPP will have been completed. The purpose of this agreement is also to regulate these matters,” he said.

Mirzoyan specifically addressed the safeguards for preserving Armenia’s sovereignty and jurisdiction, noting that the word “sovereignty” appears eight times in the document.

“Any relationship that is established and any infrastructure that is put into operation will take place entirely and in detail on the basis of, or under, these fundamental principles, within their framework. These principles are familiar to all of you: sovereignty, territorial integrity, and jurisdiction. With regard to infrastructure located on our territory, naturally, the Republic of Armenia has jurisdiction—absolute jurisdiction,” the minister emphasized.

The proposed agreement envisages establishing a TRIPP Development Company in Armenia. The American side’s TRIPP Development Company (TDC) will hold a controlling 74% stake, while Armenia will hold 26%.

The American company must be established in the state of Delaware as a wholly owned subsidiary of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. It must remain under U.S. ownership and control at all times; no third party may acquire ownership rights in it.

The Development Company’s charter will be governed by Armenian law, while the shareholders’ agreement will be governed by the laws of the United States and the State of New York.

TRIPP includes railway, road, oil and gas pipeline, fiber-optic, and energy projects. The Development Company may establish special-purpose subsidiaries to implement individual components.

Changes in the company’s control, transfers of shares, the establishment and ownership of subsidiaries, certain major financial and contractual transactions, the granting of concession rights and their final terms, as well as national security and political matters, will be governed by special mechanisms requiring the mutual agreement of the parties.

To facilitate the necessary transactions of the company and its subsidiaries, Armenia agrees to provide exemptions, where necessary, from legislation on joint-stock companies, procurement, and public-private partnerships.

The project implementation areas will be determined by mutual agreement between the parties, also taking into account feasibility and design studies. Armenia must ensure that the relevant land is state-owned or can become state-owned and is free of encumbrances and third-party rights, bearing the financial costs of these processes.

The Development Company will be granted exclusive land-use and development rights for an initial term of 49 years. These rights may be transferred to subsidiaries implementing the projects.

Upon expiration of the term, the parties may, by mutual agreement, extend the rights for another 50 years. In that case, Armenia’s stake in the company must increase to 49%. 

The extension of the term will be the sole consideration provided by Armenia in exchange for the increase in its ownership stake in the TDC.

Upon expiration of the development rights, termination of the company’s operations, or mutual agreement of the shareholders, the company’s residual rights will be returned to Armenia without any payment or compensation from Armenia. The agreement does not prevent the construction and operation of other infrastructure in Armenia outside TRIPP.

The Development Company will be authorized to select third parties participating in the projects, including concessionaires, investors, operators, contractors, and providers of engineering, procurement, and construction services. Armenia will retain its status as the sole grantor of concessions.

Speaking about border and customs functions, Mirzoyan read out the provisions establishing Armenia’s powers.

“The Republic of Armenia retains full sovereignty and jurisdiction over its borders and customs operations, undertakes to ensure effective border management, and has the right to maintain a physical presence at all its border control points. In accordance with its domestic legislation and international agreements, the Republic of Armenia continues to be responsible for the following: security and law enforcement, border control and border security, customs and migration control, the transfer of taxes and duties to the state budget, state information systems, public administration, and oversight,” the minister said.

He again emphasized that Armenia retains full sovereignty and jurisdiction in all these areas.

Addressing the “front office–back office” model, Mirzoyan explained that, with the agreement of Armenia and the Development Company, private operators may provide certain passenger and cargo handling services.

“With the consent of Armenia and the TRIPP Development Company, in which we also have a stake, services requiring direct interaction with citizens may be provided. This arrangement does not change the responsibilities of state bodies, established under the agreement, for border and customs control,” he stressed.

The minister also addressed the involvement of private security units, emphasizing that their activities are subject to Armenian law.

“Like any company, particularly large infrastructure companies, they may have their own security units, but such units must be licensed in the Republic of Armenia, as is already the case in many private-sector instances today,” Mirzoyan said.

According to him, the primary authority to act in emergency situations and control the situation rests with the relevant Armenian authorities. Armenia will also approve infrastructure security plans, and the involvement of private security personnel must comply with Armenian licensing requirements.

The agreement also establishes certain tax exemptions. Dividends distributed by the Development Company to the American company will be exempt from taxation in Armenia, provided that the latter is ultimately owned by the U.S. government.

The Development Company will also be exempt from paying taxes in Armenia on dividends received from subsidiaries and on capital gains from the disposal of its own shares or those of its subsidiaries. Transactions involving the transfer of rights provided for under the agreement—from the Government of Armenia to the Development Company and from the latter to its subsidiaries—will also be exempt from taxation.

The two countries will appoint senior officials to coordinate cooperation. The American side intends to carry out the necessary procedures, including notification of Congress and approval by the board of directors of the International Development Finance Corporation.

The United States also intends to provide financing or support efforts to secure it, subject to the availability of funds and applicable requirements, including from public and private investors on commercial terms.

Disputes concerning the interpretation or application of the agreement will be resolved through mutual consultations. The agreement will enter into force on the date of receipt of the last notification confirming the completion of the necessary domestic procedures and may be amended by mutual written agreement of the parties.

Either party may terminate the agreement by giving written notice to the other party. Termination will take effect one year after the notice is sent.