The world’s attention turns to Yerevan, Armenia, next week as the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP17) convenes from 19 to 30 October. This landmark gathering marks a critical juncture in the global effort to halt nature loss, serving as the first major test of the monitoring and reporting procedures established under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).
Representing the European Union, the European Commission is arriving in Yerevan with a clear mandate: to accelerate the implementation of the 23 global targets adopted in 2022. Among the most ambitious is the “30 by 30” commitment, which seeks to protect and manage 30% of Earth’s land, inland waters, and coastal and marine areas by the end of the decade.
The proceedings begin ahead of the official opening on 16 October with the “Leaders for Nature” Summit. Hosted by the Armenian COP17 Presidency, the event is set to culminate in the adoption of the Yerevan Declaration, “Taking Action for Nature.” This document is intended to serve as a high-level political reaffirmation, signaling a unified resolve among world leaders to prioritize biodiversity on the global policy agenda.
As the conference shifts to the High-Level Segment on 27–28 October, Commissioner Jessika Roswall will lead the EU negotiating team. A central focus for the EU during these sessions will be the launch of the “Friends of Credits for Nature and Biodiversity,” a new initiative designed to foster international collaboration on innovative financing. By leveraging private investment alongside public funds, the EU aims to create sustainable economic pathways for ecosystem restoration.
Finance remains a core pillar of the EU’s strategy. The bloc is currently on track to fulfill President von der Leyen’s 2021 pledge to double international biodiversity funding to €7 billion, with a specific focus on supporting the most vulnerable developing nations. Furthermore, in its planning for the 2028–2034 period, the Commission has proposed earmarking 35% of the total EU budget and 30% of international financing under the Global Europe instrument for environmental and climate-related action.
Another critical theme at COP17 is the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from nature. On 19 October, the EU will co-host a session dedicated to the “Cali Fund,” which manages benefits arising from digital sequence information (DSI) on genetic resources. The fund encourages companies in the pharmaceutical, agrifood, and biotechnology sectors to contribute to a global pool of resources, ensuring that the profits generated from genetic research are reinvested into biodiversity conservation and support for Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
The EU has consistently emphasized that the protection of nature cannot succeed without the full and effective participation of these communities. Consequently, a key objective for the EU in Yerevan is finalizing the modalities for the new Subsidiary Body dedicated to Indigenous Peoples and local communities, a structure established two years ago at COP16.
As the conference begins, the message from the European Commission is clear: the science is unequivocal regarding the necessity of healthy ecosystems. Beyond environmental preservation, functional biodiversity is framed as an economic imperative, essential for poverty eradication, sustainable job creation, and climate resilience.
COP17 will also see the 12th meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the 6th meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol, underscoring the comprehensive nature of the discussions. With Armenia’s logistical preparations now finalized, the international community faces the challenge of translating political promises into measurable results as the clock ticks toward the 2030 implementation deadline.
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