Biodiversity Talks Open in Armenia as Nations Face Pressure to Deliver

YEREVAN, Armenia — The 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity opened in Armenia on Monday, launching a global review of progress on protecting nature. The summit brings governments together to assess how far countries have come in meeting their commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, an international agreement to halt and reverse the loss of nature by 2030. Delegates will review national progress, identify gaps, and push for stronger action on conservation targets. The meeting is seen as a key test of whether countries are turning pledges into policy. COP17 marks the first global stocktake since the framework was adopted. Expectations are high, but so is scrutiny: many nations remain behind on their goals. The conference runs for the coming days, with negotiations expected to focus on financing, implementation, and accountability.