Hambardzum Matevosyan, Minister of Environment of the RA, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the 12th Plenary Session of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES-12).
Speaking in his capacity as President of COP17, the Minister presented the position and priorities of the Republic of Armenia. He noted that biodiversity loss continues at an alarming rate worldwide, undermining the ecosystems upon which economies, food systems, human health, and quality of life depend. He emphasized that this is not solely an environmental issue, but a systemic economic risk that threatens sustainable development, value chains, investment security, and the long-term resilience of societies.
The Minister highlighted the role of IPBES in bridging reliable data, evidence-based science, and policymaking. He also underscored the importance of the Business and Biodiversity Assessment as a key guide for the private sector to implement actions with a positive impact on nature, in line with the goals and targets of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
In the lead-up to COP17, the Minister stressed the need to focus on the implementation of key mandates, including the first global review of progress in implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework. He noted that this review should be grounded in national reports and scientific assessments in order to identify existing gaps, challenges, and priority implementation needs.
The Minister further emphasized that scientific evidence must be turned into concrete policy action, noting that COP17 can serve as a pivotal moment when biodiversity policy and practical economic solutions converge—creating incentives, benchmarks, and signals to guide business decisions toward outcomes that support nature conservation.
Armenia, as the host of COP17, aims to provide a transparent and effective platform for dialogue that leads to measurable and actionable decisions based on science and evidence.
Under the slogan “Taking Action for Nature,” the Armenian Presidency invited Parties and all interested stakeholders to use the days of the session to strengthen coordination, advance solutions for COP17, and enhance preparedness for the meeting of the Parties to be held in Yerevan.