COP17 Preliminary Agenda Published

In October 2026, Yerevan will become one of the world’s key environmental diplomacy platforms by hosting the 17th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17). From October 19 to 30, delegates from around the world, international organizations, experts, and civil society representatives will gather to discuss global progress on biodiversity conservation and priorities through 2030.

The preliminary agenda for COP17 has already been published on the official website of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

According to the agenda, the conference will open with an official ceremony, after which participants will move to organizational matters.

At the center of discussions will be the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Participants will review global progress in implementing the Framework and discuss monitoring and accountability mechanisms. Special attention will be given to mechanisms supporting the implementation of both the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, as well as related public awareness processes.

Discussions will also focus on targets for strengthening capacity-building and scientific and technical cooperation among Parties to the Convention. Participants will address knowledge management, communication, education, and public awareness issues. One of the key agenda items will be the mobilization of financial resources.

A significant section of the agenda is dedicated to the implementation of Article 8(j) of the Convention on Biological Diversity and related provisions concerning the rights and participation of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Discussions will address clarifying the modus operandi of the relevant subsidiary body operating in this field.

The conference is also expected to examine guidelines for strengthening legal and policy frameworks in the context of implementing the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. These include measures to support the protection of Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories, as well as the integration of traditional land use and natural resource management into spatial planning and environmental impact assessment processes.

Participants are expected to review and update the voluntary glossary of key terms used under Article 8(j) of the Convention and hold in-depth dialogue on the practical implementation of these provisions. Recommendations submitted by the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues will also form an important part of the discussions. The Yerevan meeting will additionally address issues related to the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources and synthetic biology. The agenda also includes a gender component, with participants expected to discuss the Gender Plan of Action aimed at promoting gender equality.

Another major direction involves international cooperation and policy coherence with other conventions and organizations.

The integration of biodiversity considerations into policies and sectoral governance systems will also be discussed in Yerevan, along with cooperation with subnational authorities. In particular, attention will be given to collaboration with subnational governments, cities, and local self-government bodies in order to accelerate implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

The agenda further includes issues related to the work programme of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).

Participants will also discuss the strategic review and update of the expanded programme of work on forest biodiversity, as well as modernization of the programme on protected areas. This topic also includes identifying possible future actions within the Framework’s implementation context. The conference will additionally examine links between biodiversity and climate change, agriculture, health, wildlife management, marine ecosystems, and invasive alien species. Administrative matters related to the Convention will also be reviewed, including issues concerning the budgets of trust funds and the functioning of the Secretariat. At the conclusion of the conference, participants will evaluate the effectiveness of the Convention and its protocols. The meeting will close with the adoption of a multi-year programme of work, approval of the final report, and formal closure of the session.

May 06, 2026 at 16:30