As part of the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17), to be held in Yerevan from October 19-30 this year, the Green Zone will operate at the Karen Demirchian Sports and Concert Complex. It is intended for public, scientific, educational, and cultural events.
The Green Zone will serve as a platform where government institutions, civil society organizations, international partners, the private sector, educational institutions, and youth initiatives will be able to present their programmes and hold discussions, workshops, exhibitions, and other events. Participation will be possible only on the basis of a prior application.
According to Lilit Midoyan, Coordinator of the COP17 Green Zone, all applications are accepted exclusively through the official conference website. The process is fully digitalized, and participation does not require any intermediary or personal connections.
Around 80 thematic sessions are planned to be held over the 12 days of the conference. Their content will be assessed in advance by specialists.
Applications will be reviewed according to three main criteria: scientific justification, alignment with environmental policy, and technical feasibility.
The organizers also draw attention to the technical requirements. All presentations, slide decks, and necessary materials must be provided in advance, as there will be no opportunity to accept new files or upload presentations on site during the event.
The Green Zone will feature not only professional discussions but also exhibitions showcasing Armenia's nature, culture, and sustainable development initiatives.
For example, organizations engaged in recycling, ecodesign, or other environmental initiatives may present their activities free of charge, provided that they are aligned with the programme's areas of focus and are selected through the application evaluation process.
Around 100 exhibition booths will also be available at the complex. The rental cost of a standard 3x3-meter booth is AMD 1.4 million, including taxes.
Small organizations will also have the opportunity to participate jointly, with several organizations sharing one booth.
According to Lilit Midoyan, the Green Zone will have access to the Sports and Concert Complex's 2,000-seat main hall and two 50-seat rooms for holding workshops.
At the same time, the organizers emphasize that the use of plastic and other materials harmful to the environment must be excluded when designing exhibitions.
Green Zone events will also be open to the public. Visitors will be able to attend the programmes free of charge; however, for security reasons, they will need to register in advance and obtain an entry QR code. Once obtained, the same code will allow access to the Green Zone throughout the conference.
The organizers note that all information regarding participation requirements, the application submission procedure, and other matters is available on the official COP17 Green Zone website, where a countdown to the start of the conference is also already available.
Article and photo by EcoLur volunteer Tatev Lazaryan
August 05, 2026 at 14:33