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Armenia’s School Meals Program is viewed not only as a means of providing children with healthy food and nutrition, but also as an important component of education, biodiversity conservation, and the development of sustainable food systems.

This approach was presented at the side event titled “Role of National Education Systems in Advancing Food Security and Implementation of Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF),” held on the sidelines of the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17), taking place in Yerevan.

The event was organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), and the School Meals and Child Welfare Institution (also known as the School Nutrition and Child Welfare Agency).

Representatives of Armenia, Brazil, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, and Rwanda participated in the discussion, presenting their countries’ experiences in organizing school meals and addressing the interconnections between education, agriculture, and environmental protection.

Armenian Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Zhanna Andreasyan emphasized that the School Meals Program in Armenia has not only social but also educational and environmental significance, helping foster responsible consumer behavior among children.

“We are talking, first and foremost, not only about eating and healthy food, but also about shaping public behavior through it. In particular, behavior that takes into account the need to preserve biodiversity and address climate change, and that also entails a reassessment of human consumer behavior,” the minister said.

According to her, the School Meals Program is an important part of the educational process. The mandatory “Healthy Lifestyle” course has already been introduced in schools, and one of its key components is providing knowledge about healthy nutrition.

Andreasyan also highlighted the experience of establishing greenhouses and intensive orchards at schools, which allows children not only to acquire theoretical knowledge but also to learn about the food production process in practice.

“We have experience in building greenhouses and intensive orchards at schools, which help, on the one hand, teach very important knowledge and, on the other, make all this part of a unified chain and incorporate the provision of food in schools, to some extent, into a self-sufficient chain. I believe that our experience has been very successful in every respect, and today’s discussion will provide an opportunity to present it once again,” the minister said.

Addressing the program’s future development, Andreasyan said that one of the priorities is expanding it in Yerevan, as well as extending it beyond primary grades to higher grades.

“I consider expanding the program in Yerevan to be our most important task. As you know, all first- through fourth-grade students in our regions receive healthy food funded by the state. We are talking about more than 100,000 children. But the program must also cover Yerevan. We began piloting it in Yerevan this September, and at this point, we are determining which models would be more suitable for implementation in the capital, taking its specific characteristics into account,” Andreasyan said.

The minister emphasized that the program’s expansion must continue, since the need for healthy eating is not limited to primary education.

Addressing the importance of children’s direct interaction with nature, Andreasyan said that the ministry considers it important to organize hikes, camps, and outdoor classes with the aim of making them part of everyday school life.

The minister said that newly built schools where space allows will also have outdoor learning areas, small gardens, and pavilions where classes can be held.

Such initiatives, she said, help develop children’s practical skills by teaching them to navigate their surroundings and acquire the necessary knowledge through direct interaction with the environment.

“These are irreplaceable, basic skills, regardless of technological developments. I believe that every child of ours should have these skills,” she emphasized.

Matthew Hollingworth, Assistant Executive Director for Programme Operations at the United Nations World Food Programme, in turn, highly praised Armenia’s achievements, emphasizing that the country is among the international leaders in organizing school meals and linking them with local food systems.

In his assessment, the school meals model introduced in Armenia has transformative significance because it brings together several areas: children’s healthy nutrition, improved education quality, promotion of local production, job creation, and biodiversity conservation.

“We want Armenia to share its knowledge and show other countries how such programs can be implemented,” Hollingworth said.

It is important for children from an early age not only to receive healthy food but also to develop an understanding of its production, local food systems, soil health, biodiversity, and environmental protection, the WFP official said.

“Our role is to provide support, but this is an Armenian program. It was developed here and will bring major changes to the country in the long term. If every child goes through this system over time, we will see very significant positive changes in the coming years,” Hollingworth emphasized.

He reaffirmed that Armenia’s experience could serve as an example for other countries.

“Armenia is one of the pioneers of this approach and is showing the way forward. We very much hope that we will be able to develop this experience so that other countries can also follow Armenia’s example,” he concluded.

The first part of the discussion was devoted to political leadership for biodiversity, food security, and human capital development. Participants discussed how governments can align policies on education, food systems, and biodiversity conservation.

Speakers in the first session included Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Armenia Anna Babajanyan; Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade of Armenia Robert Abisoghomonyan; Deputy Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of Kyrgyzstan Almaz Musaev; and a representative of Indonesia’s Ministry of National Development Planning. Hollingworth also delivered remarks.

The second part of the discussion focused on school meals as a platform for implementing systemic change. The participants presented their countries’ experiences, including Daniel Balaban, Director of the WFP Centre of Excellence against Hunger in Brazil; Armenian Deputy Minister of Economy Arman Khojoyan; Sok Silo, Secretary General of Cambodia’s Council for Agricultural and Rural Development; Olivier Kamana, Permanent Secretary of Rwanda’s Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources; and Hiroyuki Nishiura, a representative of Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

The delegates also emphasized the role of school meals programs in ensuring food security, developing local economies, and preserving biodiversity.

The discussions also presented the experience of Armenia’s national School Meals Program. The program is implemented through cooperation between the Government of Armenia and the United Nations World Food Programme. Currently, around 104,000 primary school students in public schools across all regions of Armenia receive healthy, hot meals at school every day.

The participating delegates emphasized that food security, healthy nutrition, and biodiversity conservation are interconnected and require comprehensive approaches. In this context, school meals programs were viewed as a long-term investment in children’s health, the economic development of communities, and environmental protection.

As part of the event, the “From Biodiversity to the School Table” experience, created using virtual reality technologies, was also presented. It offers a 360-degree virtual tour of school gardens, greenhouses, farms, bakeries, and school cafeterias in Armenia, while also introducing visitors to the whole-grain value chain.

The virtual experience will be available at the Armenia Pavilion in the COP17 Green Zone from October 19 to 30, daily from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Armenia is hosting COP17 from 19 to 30 October, with discussions focusing on global biodiversity issues and challenges. During the conference, the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex has become the Green Zone, which is also open to the general public.

An Armenpress correspondent spoke to Lilit Midoyan, who is responsible for organising the Green Zone’s activities, about its programme.

Lilit, could you explain what visitors can see at the Green Zone’s pavilions?

Working with representatives of various companies, organisations and the public sector, we have sought to showcase both Armenia’s rich biodiversity and programmes supporting environmental protection and sustainable development.

We currently have more than 100 pavilions and a children’s educational area where parents can leave their children while they explore the rest of the Green Zone. These areas offer environmental and developmental games, and we have a sociologist and a psychologist who will work with the children.

We also have a science and education area featuring the coalition of universities on biodiversity, alongside several innovative projects whose products visitors can explore. These include a water filtration system.

There is also a cultural programme, with two stages and two workshop spaces offering a varied programme from 10:00 to 20:00.

You mentioned the activities for children. Am I right in understanding that the dedicated children’s pavilions aim to strengthen their sense of responsibility for caring for nature?

Yes. As I mentioned, we have different games for different age groups. The games teach children how to sort waste. We have games about Lake Sevan and illustrations themed around Armenia’s biodiversity. We have tried to help children learn about biodiversity from an early age. Armenia, despite being a small country in the Caucasus, has a biodiversity concentration of 60 per cent.

While walking around the pavilions, I saw several exhibitions. There is a strong cultural element too. Was it easy to bring biodiversity and culture together?

They may seem like separate fields, but they are not. We tend to think of nature and biodiversity as fields that exist in their own separate bunker, but that is not the case. Biodiversity is also present in culture. If we study dragon carpets or other types of carpets, we can see how extensively Armenia’s biodiversity is represented in carpet weaving too.

We have several pavilions showcasing Armenia. We should not forget Armenian cochineal either. The Matenadaran holds many books written using cochineal dye.

What discussions will take place here during the conference?

I would like to talk about the idea behind the Green Zone. It was specifically created as a space where civil society, journalists and anyone interested can be represented and raise their concerns through discussions, speakers addressing the sector’s issues on stage, and other formats.

The workshops and topics are very varied. The programme is available on the Green Zone’s official website.

COP in Armenia has attracted participants from a wide range of countries. We have welcomed many interesting people, and conferences have already taken place, with others still under way. I know many people who have registered specifically to attend Green Zone events, including quite a few foreign visitors. Could you tell us about that interest? Is it really that strong?

It really is. It is a little difficult to imagine an event of this scale taking place in Armenia. This is the largest international event held in Armenia since independence.

We currently have 15,000 registrations for the Green Zone, without even counting the Blue Zone. Speakers who have appeared in the Blue Zone will also be taking part in the Green Zone.

The Blue Zone is a restricted area, so this is a major opportunity for civil society to come here and engage with the international community.

I understand you have also taken part in a COP conference in another country. Have you adapted anything from that experience for Armenia?

You are right. I took part in the COP on desertification in Saudi Arabia, where I was also an organiser of the Green Zone. I represented a company responsible for technical matters.

I had just three months to bring the entire Green Zone to life. That experience was very useful when organising the COP Green Zone in Armenia, as I already knew what to expect. I have tried to adapt international experience to the local context as much as possible.

Thank you, Lilit. Please add anything else you would like to say.

I would like to talk about the slogan “Taking Action for Nature”. The Green Zone is precisely one of the places where the public can take action for nature by showcasing their projects, engaging with the international community and presenting all their solutions.

Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan visited the COP17 Green Zone at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex to inspect the ministry’s dedicated pavilion.

Educational, cultural, youth and sports events are being held for the public with the participation of organizations under the ministry.

The Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport said that the pavilion is open daily from 10:00 to 20:00.

Deputy Minister Anna Babajanyan accompanied Andreasyan on the visit.

Today, the ministry’s pavilion is showcasing the general education sector. In particular, students from the Ayb School presented the minister with their project, “From an Idea to Green Impact: Project-Based Learning for Nature and a Sustainable Future,” while the National Center for Education Development and Innovation presented the work of UNESCO Associated Schools, including the “Climate Box” program, with student participation.

The minister noted that during this period, when schools are on vacation, students’ activities should focus on the programs presented in the thematic pavilions operating in the COP17 Green Zone. According to her, a number of the events being held are a key part of education, and it is very important for schoolchildren to actively visit the Green Zone during this period and familiarize themselves with biodiversity issues and the topics under discussion.

Encouraging the students present at the pavilions, the minister noted that their project work is thereby becoming more visible not only to the Armenian public but also to the international community, providing students with good motivation to develop new projects.

The minister also visited other pavilions. In particular, she familiarized herself with the pavilion of the Armenian University Coalition for Biodiversity, presented under the coordination of Yerevan State University.

During the day, various universities will present their research on Armenia’s biodiversity, environmental challenges and initiatives implemented with youth participation.

YSU’s Faculty of Biology will present Armenia as an as-yet-undiscovered center of biodiversity in the Caucasus, as well as research on the diversity of microorganisms in Armenia’s caves.

Armenian Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan met with Matthew Hollingworth, Assistant Executive Director for Programme Operations at the UN World Food Programme, on October 19 on the sidelines of COP17.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Sargsyan presented the transformations underway in disaster risk management, planning and response, including reforms to the state material reserves system and institutional reforms underway at the ministry.

Thanking the UN World Food Programme for its continued support, the minister emphasized the active involvement of its Armenia office in various programs and events aimed at disaster risk management.

Highly valuing the longstanding cooperation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Hollingworth welcomed Armenia’s willingness to assume national leadership in disaster management.

The parties agreed to expand cooperation in joint exercises and capacity building.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is calling for clear decisions at COP17 to accelerate biodiversity conservation, increase funding and ensure that countries fulfil their commitments.

Speaking at a press conference in Yerevan on 19 October during COP17, WWF President Adil Najam stressed that tackling biodiversity loss requires both new commitments and practical steps that deliver measurable results.

He said WWF’s Living Planet Report records an average decline of 73 per cent in vertebrate wildlife populations since 1970.

“Now is not the time simply to ask ourselves questions or discuss what we should do. Now is the time to act,” Najam stressed, noting that although biodiversity loss continues, successful conservation efforts in different countries demonstrate that change is possible.

He said efforts to restore tiger populations, protect sea turtles and implement other initiatives show that political will and sustained work can deliver positive results.

Guido Broekhoven, Head of Multilateral Policy at WWF International, said COP17’s success should be measured by how far it changes governments’ actions after the conference.

He highlighted two main challenges: the gap in ambition between national biodiversity conservation plans and global goals, and the gap between the measures envisaged in national plans and their actual implementation.

Broekhoven said progress towards targets where implementation is lagging must be accelerated, and biodiversity must be integrated into financial, agricultural, infrastructure, trade and development policies, as well as environmental policy.

He also stressed the importance of establishing coordination mechanisms across government, noting that environment ministries alone cannot ensure implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Increasing funding for biodiversity conservation is among WWF’s priorities. Broekhoven said COP17 must provide a clear roadmap towards meeting the target of increasing international funding to US$30 billion annually by 2030.

He also emphasised the need to reform harmful subsidies. Governments must review financial incentives that harm nature and align public and private financial flows with biodiversity conservation goals.

WWF representative Vishay Chakram said some subsidies in agriculture, fisheries and forestry can contribute to biodiversity loss. It is therefore necessary both to increase conservation funding and to redirect funds that encourage activities harmful to ecosystems.

Speakers at the press conference also stressed that biodiversity funding must be accessible, predictable and effective. Particular attention should be paid to developing countries, indigenous peoples, local communities, women and young people directly involved in conservation work.

WWF representatives said the effectiveness of funding should be assessed by how much money actually reaches those implementing projects and what results it delivers on the ground, as well as by the amounts pledged.

They also highlighted the importance of involving indigenous peoples, local communities and young people in developing and implementing biodiversity conservation policies.

Najam said young people are both beneficiaries of biodiversity conservation and important participants in delivering it. He stressed that governments, businesses and civil society must take young people’s concerns seriously and ensure their participation in decision-making.

He said the fulfilment of commitments must be accompanied by clear accountability for how funding is used and the impact of the actions taken.

WWF representatives also emphasised that the global review must go beyond assessing progress in biodiversity conservation. It must provide a basis for revising national strategies, targets and actions.

They said decisions adopted at COP17 must establish clear mechanisms for assessing progress, encourage countries to exchange experience and help close the gaps between global goals and national action.

“We have time, and we also have solutions. What we need now are the appropriate decisions, institutions, resources, partnerships and safeguards to protect rights that will enable us to bring about real change on the ground,” Broekhoven concluded.

Sargis Asatryan

Armenia and Colombia have initiated the establishment of the Coalition of Action to Recover Endangered Species (CARES), which aims to accelerate the conservation and recovery of endangered species and support the implementation of Target 4 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Armenia and Colombia co-chair the coalition, while the Reverse the Red action partnership serves as its secretariat.

Presenting the initiative, Armenian Deputy Environment Minister Aram Meymaryan stressed that CARES aims to translate internationally agreed goals into practical action, reducing the risk of species extinction and supporting population recovery.

“Target 4 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework calls for urgent action to prevent human-induced species extinction and ensure species conservation and recovery. CARES is intended to help countries achieve practical results in this area,” the deputy minister said.

He noted that habitat conservation and restoration, efforts to tackle invasive species and the reduction of climate risks are not always sufficient to conserve all endangered species.

“Each species faces its own threats and has specific recovery needs. Targeted action must therefore be based on scientific evidence and an assessment of each species’ status,” Meymaryan stressed.

He said CARES would enable countries to exchange experience, use practical species recovery methods and cooperate with an international network of experts. The International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Species Survival Commission and its partners could provide technical support.

Discussing the initiative’s significance for Armenia, the deputy minister stressed the need for close coordination between science, public administration and practical action.

“Scientific assessments must be translated into clear programmes, and their implementation must deliver visible and measurable results. As the host country of COP17, we value cooperation that helps countries advance their national priorities. Platforms such as CARES enable us to address challenges collectively, exchange effective practices and identify support needs more clearly,” Meymaryan said.

The deputy minister also highlighted funding, noting that species recovery often requires sustained, long-term work. Joint efforts under CARES could help mobilise financial resources. Funding mechanisms to support member countries are also envisaged.

“The success of this cooperation must ultimately be measured by results in nature. Have threats been reduced? Have species’ prospects for survival improved? Are their populations recovering? Our shared goal is to ensure that species endangered today have safer conditions for survival and recovery in the wild tomorrow,” Aram Meymaryan concluded.

Asked by Armenpress about progress in revising Armenia’s Red Book and plans to involve the private sector in endangered species conservation initiatives, Meymaryan said the Red Book was currently under review.

“Discussions are under way with scientific institutions to determine how we should organise work on the new edition of the Red Book, study and analyse both previously listed and new species, assess their current status and publish the new Red Book,” Meymaryan said.

Turning to private-sector involvement, the deputy minister said cooperation was already taking place with both non-governmental organisations and business representatives.

“One example is the programme to restore Sevan trout. Private companies operating around Lake Sevan often approach us to fund the release of a certain number of trout into the lake. However, these remain separate, small-scale initiatives. I hope we will soon be able to establish larger partnerships and make this process more institutionalised,” Meymaryan stressed.

Colombian Deputy Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development David Felipe Olarte Amaya also highlighted the launch of the endangered species recovery coalition, expressing hope that commitments made within the COP framework would be translated into action as quickly as possible.

“The launch of this coalition is very important for Colombia, and we hope that the commitments already made within the COP framework will be fulfilled as soon as possible through practical action to protect endangered species. In cooperation with Armenia, Colombia plans to undertake species recovery action by sharing scientific knowledge and mobilising expertise,” the deputy minister said.

He said Colombia had significant resources in this area and was already working to restore two important species.

“Our goal is to restore viable populations capable of ensuring the reproduction of these species. Recovery is possible when scientific institutions, international partners and local communities work together. Conservation therefore means much more: protecting one species also means restoring an entire ecosystem and ensuring environmental conditions in which species can thrive and reproduce,” Olarte Amaya stressed.

The deputy minister also said the coalition had already brought together 17 countries.

“We have already brought together 17 countries within this coalition. Once again, I would like to thank the Armenian Government for its support, for hosting us in this wonderful place and for supporting the coalition’s launch,” he concluded.

As COP17’s formal proceedings begin, political statements must be translated into agreed decisions and action.

Armenian Environment Minister and COP17 President Hambardzum Matevosyan said this at a joint press conference with Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

The minister announced that he had been elected COP17 President, describing the role as a responsibility both for him personally and for Armenia. He said Armenia would work over the next two years to translate the trust placed in it into collective efforts and tangible results.

Matevosyan highlighted the importance of the Leaders’ Summit and the adoption of the Yerevan Declaration. He said the previous day’s opening ceremony had also underlined the principle uniting participants: protecting nature as a shared responsibility.

“The conference’s formal proceedings began today. Our task is to translate political statements into agreed decisions and action,” the COP17 President stressed.

He said collective progress in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was central to the conference’s agenda.

“We must develop a shared understanding of where the gaps are and where additional resources need to be directed so that the targets set for 2030 can be achieved,” Matevosyan said.

He stressed that, as conference president, he would work to ensure open, transparent and inclusive dialogue based on mutual respect among the parties and a willingness to reach common solutions. Matevosyan reaffirmed his commitment to taking action for nature.

During his remarks, the minister thanked Astrid Schomaker and the Convention’s secretariat team for their cooperation in preparing the conference.

An awards ceremony for the EU-funded “Youth Vision for Lake Sevan in 2050” creative initiative, implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), took place in COP17’s Green Zone, showcasing artwork by teenagers from communities around Lake Sevan.

In September and October, 142 schoolchildren aged 13–16 from communities around Lake Sevan took part in the initiative, organised under the EU-funded, UNDP-implemented project “EU for Sevan’s Biodiversity: Improving the Restoration of Lake Sevan’s Ecosystem”.

The young participants explored Lake Sevan’s biodiversity and the importance of its conservation, using art to express how they would like to see the lake in 2050.

Fifty pictures, ten from each community, were selected for display during COP17, allowing visitors to see how schoolchildren living around Lake Sevan perceive the lake today and envision its future.

In his remarks, Ambassador Vassilis Maragos, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, stressed the need to conserve Lake Sevan, highlighting the importance of protecting its biodiversity, water resources and local livelihoods.

Addressing the young participants, he said: “Through your pictures and artistic ideas, you remind us that biodiversity conservation is more than a scientific or political issue. It is also a human issue, reflecting the future we want to build and the world we want to leave behind. Art has a special power. It helps us see nature with our eyes and feel it with our hearts. It can inspire people to think, feel and act, while the voice of your art speaks for Lake Sevan—its beauty, vulnerability and future.”

UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia Natia Natsvlishvili also praised the young participants’ achievements and stressed the importance of involving them in environmental initiatives and ensuring their participation in building a more sustainable future.

“You have shown that young people are more than future beneficiaries of environmental programmes: they already play an important role in implementing these initiatives today. I hope you will continue to ask questions, propose ideas and contribute to conserving Lake Sevan. The lake’s future will depend both on the commitments we make today and on the dedication, creativity and leadership of young people like you, who will continue to bring the vision for Sevan’s future to life,” Natsvlishvili said.

The event provided another reminder that conserving Lake Sevan is a shared responsibility across generations. By bringing young people’s voices to COP17, the initiative highlighted the importance of involving the younger generation in discussions and decision-making about the future of Armenia’s natural heritage.

A short video screened during the event summarised the initiative and presented the participating schoolchildren’s perspectives on Lake Sevan.

The creators of the three highest-rated works then took to the stage to receive their prizes from Vassilis Maragos and Natia Natsvlishvili. First prize went to 13-year-old Nare Matosyan of Gavar School No. 3. Second prize was awarded to 13-year-old Sona Mikayelyan, also of Gavar School No. 3, while third prize went to 13-year-old Susanna Khachatryan of School No. 1 in Karmir village, Gegharkunik region.

The project aims to support the long-term restoration and sustainable management of Lake Sevan’s ecosystem by improving biodiversity conservation, strengthening institutional capacity and introducing sustainable financing approaches. Alongside ecosystem restoration measures, it promotes environmental awareness and community engagement, encouraging local residents and young people to play an active role in preserving Lake Sevan’s natural heritage.

Knowledge of the causes of the biodiversity crisis and the solutions needed already exists; the task now is to narrow the gap between that knowledge and the action being taken.

Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, said this in Yerevan.

She noted that the biodiversity crisis has been documented for decades and its consequences are known.

“We know what is happening to nature. We know what it means for economies, health and the future. And most importantly—and this is the good news—we also know what needs to be done,” Schomaker said.

She said the purpose of gathering in Yerevan was to help translate knowledge into practical action.

Schomaker discussed the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted four years ago, stressing that it addresses both nature conservation and the underlying drivers of nature’s destruction.

The Convention’s Executive Secretary highlighted the importance of integrating the global framework into national policies and budgets. She also discussed the participation of communities, women, young people and non-governmental organisations alongside governments.

Schomaker said biodiversity conservation efforts were not starting from scratch and that the Yerevan conference marked an intermediate milestone on that journey.

For every dollar allocated to nature conservation, around US$30 is directed towards activities that harm it.

Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, said this while stressing the importance of reducing harmful subsidies.

“We cannot protect nature on the one hand while spending money to destroy it on the other. Many of you have probably seen the figures: for every dollar directed towards nature conservation, US$30 is spent on destroying or damaging it,” Schomaker stressed.

She cited 2023 data showing that financial flows towards activities harmful to nature totalled approximately US$7.3 trillion. Most of this funding came from the private sector, although harmful public subsidies also played a significant role.

The relevant UN Environment Programme report attributes US$4.9 trillion of these flows to private sources and US$2.4 trillion to environmentally harmful public subsidies.

Schomaker recalled the target of reducing harmful subsidies by US$500 billion annually by 2030. She also addressed the commitment to identify such subsidies by 2025, noting that gaps in this area were reflected in the progress report.

Target 18 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework calls for harmful incentives, including subsidies, to be eliminated, phased out or reformed, reducing them by at least US$500 billion annually by 2030.

The Convention’s Executive Secretary said it was important for the conference to establish a shared recognition of the problem, ensure accountability and discuss practical ways forward.