Biodiversity COP17 closes in Yerevan with the Yerevan Pathway as its main decision
31 October 2026
The 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity ended in Yerevan, Armenia, on 31 October, a day later than planned. Its main decision, the Yerevan Pathway, is the response to the first global review of progress under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which has 23 targets with a 2030 deadline. Because that review found the world off track, countries are asked to revise their national biodiversity plans, phase out nature-harmful subsidies faster and line up their budgets with the framework. Armenia's environment minister Hambardzum Matevosyan was the COP17 President. Close to $2 billion in fresh biodiversity money was announced, including $560 million under the GEF-9 replenishment. Technical details of the Cali Fund, adopted at COP16 for payments on digital genetic data, were left to COP18, which Ecuador will host in 2028.
In plain words
CBD Convention on Biological Diversity — The UN treaty on conserving biodiversity, opened for signature at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.
COP Conference of the Parties — The supreme decision-making meeting of the countries that have joined a treaty.
KMGBF Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework — The 2022 global plan with 23 biodiversity targets for 2030, including 30x30.
Cali Fund — A fund set up at COP16 for companies that use digital genetic sequence data to share benefits.
GEF Global Environment Facility — A multilateral fund that finances environmental projects in developing countries.