Armenia to host UN biodiversity conference in 2026

Armenia has been chosen to host the next United Nations biodiversity conference, COP17, in 2026, marking a significant milestone for the nation.

The announcement was made by Environment Minister Hakob Simidian, who revealed that Armenia secured the honor with 65 votes, surpassing rival candidate Azerbaijan, which is set to host the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) later this month.

During a recent working visit to Colombia, Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturian emphasized the importance of this event, stating that holding COP17 in Armenia presents “an excellent opportunity to advance multilateral efforts to protect global biodiversity.” He underscored Armenia’s commitment, declaring, “Armenia will spare no effort to make sure that COP17 will be another important milestone in our global efforts for biodiversity preservation and sustainable use of natural resources.”

As the world grapples with the escalating challenges of biodiversity loss, Armenia’s upcoming role in hosting this vital conference signals its dedication to fostering international cooperation and dialogue on environmental sustainability.