Between October 19 and 30, parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity will gather in Yerevan, Armenia, for negotiations on numerous legal texts governing decisions under the Conference of the Parties. The meeting comes at a significant juncture, representing the midway point between the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and its implementation deadline. Current assessments indicate that countries are not on track to meet 22 of the framework’s 23 targets, underscoring the urgency of deliberations.
Negotiations will also address two supplementary protocols to the CBD. The Cartagena Protocol, covering biosafety matters, involves 173 parties, while the Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit-sharing of genetic resources encompasses 141 parties. Draft decisions from recent subsidiary body meetings will serve as the foundation for discussions, drawing from three CBD subsidiary bodies that address scientific and technical matters, implementation issues, and Indigenous peoples’ concerns.
Two agenda items are expected to dominate the summit’s proceedings. The first involves a comprehensive global review assessing advancement toward the biodiversity framework and formulating recommendations for expedited action. The second centers on financial mechanisms and resource mobilization, areas that have previously caused considerable friction among parties. Nations in the global south are anticipated to advocate for enhanced international conservation financing, while disagreements over financial structure remain. Earlier negotiations in 2024 resulted in a suspension of talks over these financial questions, though subsequent discussions in early 2025 produced agreement on a roadmap for establishing a permanent mechanism.
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