YEREVAN, Armenia — On September 12, over 200 participants gathered for the launch event of the Road to COP17 Initiative. The gathering marked the official kickoff of the Initiative and included a discussion about the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and its implementation in Armenia.
The Road to COP17 Initiative is organized by the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Armenia (RA) and American University of Armenia (AUA) Acopian Center for the Environment, in partnership with the CBD Secretariat.
The Initiative is a year-long series of activities to boost national awareness of the global biodiversity agenda ahead of the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17), which will be held in Yerevan from October 18 to 30, 2026. An estimated 30,000 people from around the world, including many state representatives, will visit Armenia for the occasion, which is expected to be the largest international event ever hosted in the country.
The Road to COP17 launch event was facilitated by AUA Acopian Center Director Alen Gasparian Amirkhanian. Opening remarks were delivered by AUA President Dr. Bruce Boghosian, RA Minister of Environment Hambartsum Matevosyan, and United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in Armenia Françoise Jacob. Finally, Astrid Schomaker, CBD executive secretary, offered her remarks through a video message, highlighting “we will need the continued support of all parts of Armenian society, including all of you — representing youth, academia, and also the private sector — in the run-up to COP17.”
Dr. Boghosian welcomed the participants to AUA, stating, “Through its Acopian Center for the Environment, AUA is fulfilling its commitment to support Armenia in the historic undertaking of COP17 by, among other things, initiating and partnering on the Road to COP17 Initiative.”
Matevosyan reflected on the RA Ministry of Environment’s commitment to the Road to COP17 Initiative, sharing: “The Road to COP17 Initiative provides us with a unique opportunity to coordinate our efforts, strengthen our capacities, and present ambitious and actionable commitments on the international stage. Together, we can preserve the natural legacy of Armenia and the world at large.”
Dr. Arsen Gasparyan, assistant professor at the AUA Zaven P. and Sonia Akian College of Science and Engineering, biodiversity expert at the AUA Acopian Center, and coordinator of the Road to COP17 Initiative, outlined the goals and planned activities of the Initiative, noting: “In preparation for COP17 in Yerevan, there are two tracks we should discuss: the logistics to ensure our guests feel welcome and have a comfortable stay in Armenia, and equally importantly, prepare strong content that focuses on the global biodiversity agenda and positions Armenia to lead. The Road to COP17 Initiative is focused on preparing Armenia’s experts and overall society to understand the global biodiversity agenda and Armenia’s role in it.”
Dr. Gasparyan’s talk was followed by a presentation on CBD and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF) by Thierry Lucas, a senior programme officer at the UN Environment Programme. Lucas outlined the vision at the heart of the KM-GBF — a world living in harmony with nature — and explained the goals and targets that will facilitate the achievement of that goal.
The event concluded with a presentation on Armenia’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2025–2030 by Dr. Areg Karapetyan, from the Takhtajyan Institute of Botany of Armenia’s National Academy of Sciences. Dr. Karapetyan, who led the NBSAP preparation team, explained how the global targets of the KM-GBF are implemented at a national level and outlined Armenia’s vision, targets, and funding sources.
For details and updates on the Road to COP17 Initiative, please visit the Initiative’s webpage.
The AUA Acopian Center for the Environment, a research center of the American University of Armenia (AUA), promotes the protection and restoration of the natural environment through research, education, and community outreach. The AUA Acopian Center’s focus areas include sustainable natural resource management, biodiversity protection and conservation, greening the built environment, sustainable energy, as well as information technology and the environment. Visit ace.aua.am.
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[Lurer] Ճանապարհ դեպի COP17
