Opening Plenary: UN Convention on Biodiversity - COP 17

Biodiversity is a chain that runs from life to life. Because in nature, everything leaves its mark. And each mark leads to the next, on and on without end. Nature leaves marks on itself, from a shard of stone to mountains, from a drop of water to seas. From deserts to vast forests, everything is the work of constant change. Nature leaves its mark on the way we live, even on our character and our fate. Water decides where we settle. Soil and wind decide how we build. Heat and cold decide how we endure. In time, this becomes habit. Habit becomes a way of life. And a way of life becomes character. And a single shift can change the course of an entire community. Nature is part of who we are. People come to resemble the land around them. Mixed in with the marks of nature are other marks. Ours. The mark we leave is the road. The garden, the bridge, the city. But it is also the felled forest, the emptied land, the polluted air and water. Some marks bring good, others bring loss. And the losses are growing, putting biodiversity at risk. How do we create without destroying? The path The road COP17 sets out on begins at Armenia and will cross the whole world, leaving its mark on the long road from conflict with nature to reconciliation. COP17 is where the world acts together to leave a positive mark on nature and on the future. COP17, Yerevan, Armenia, taking action for nature. Mother Nature. People have called her that for a long time, in language after language. Why? Because she feeds us. Not the body alone, but the heart and the spirit with it. In trying to know her, we built a world of our own, but never apart from her. Nature is in our culture, stone and script, thread and song. of it is the second life of Armenian nature. It's where we came to know ourselves and where we found the forms our thoughts and feelings could take. Our temples follow the quiet lines of the mountains, almost extending them. Some are carved into the rock itself and become part of it. Our letters come to life as if setting out on a long journey. In our manuscripts, we shape them into birds, marking the flight of the mind and the reach of knowledge. The beauty of nature, its colors, its perfect lines, we wove into our carpets. And so we brought nature into our homes and surrounded ourselves with its images. In our songs, the nightingale is the voice of love, the quail is the bride, and the crane is the one that carries our longing. Our dances have set the strength of the mountains in motion. Our way to great dreams, we built like a wall going up, stone upon stone. And the will it took, and the struggle, we struck out with our palms like rams in combat. Our whole way of seeing was born of Mother Nature. Our mind and our spirit still draw their strength from her. Nature is in our culture.

We are particularly honored to have you all here together in Germany.

Biodiversity must be part of every decision being made.

Thank you very much for the warm welcome we are enjoying and for the excellent organization of the summit.

And of the cauld.

I thank the government of.

Armenia for hosting this vital summit and for sharing with us the wonders of the Caucasus.

Good morning, delegates. Can you take your seat, please? Distinguished delegates, please take your seats. We're going to start. Your Excellency, Mr. Matevosyan, Minister of Environment of the Republic of Armenia. Mrs. Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity. distinguished delegates, representatives of indigenous people and local communities, women, youth, and civil society. Ladies and gentlemen, it is an honor to address you on behalf of the Republic of Colombia as we conclude our responsibility of President of the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, COP16. and the 11th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. I'm prepared to hand over the presidency to the Republic of Armenia. We express our sincerest gratitude to the government and the people of Armenia for their hospitality and the assuming to the responsibility of guiding this new chapter in international biodiversity negotiations. We gather here in Yerevan at a decisive moment for the nature of our planet. With only four years remaining until 2030, the international community faces an urgent responsibility to translate the commitments made under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework into concrete, measurable, and lasting results. Biodiversity is not merely an environmental concern. It is the foundation of our water and food security, the resilience of our territories, the productivity of our economies, and the well-being of our societies. Protecting nature also means protecting the condition that make development and prosperity possible for our communities. During COP16, that conclude in Rome in 2025, the parties reach landmark decision to strengthen the implementation of the convention. These include the establishment of the permanent subsidiary body on Article 8j, the recognition of the contribution of people of African descent to biodiversity conservation, the operationalization of the multilateral mechanism for sharing benefits arising from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources. Decisions were also adopted on resource mobilization, the financial mechanism. monitoring, and the review of implementation of the global biodiversity framework. These outcomes provide an institutional foundation upon which we must continue to build. Through the international period, Colombia supported the secretariat, the bureau, and the subsidiary bodies in sustaining dialogue among parties and the preparing for this conference. In Panama 2025, the first meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Article 8 marked an important step towards strengthening the participation of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. The Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice advanced preparation for this global review of collective progress in implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework. The subsidiary body on implementation in Rome and Nairobi considered the conditions needed to accelerate implementation, notably financing, scientific and technological cooperation, capacity building and monitoring of national commitments. In Nairobi, Parties examined the outcomes of the global review and identified priorities to accelerate actions toward 2030. The coming dialogue held in September enriched this process through the exchange of experience and proposal to address existing gaps. This intercessional work demonstrate the value of institutional continuity and multilateral cooperation. We extend our special appreciation to the Executive Secretariat of the Convention, the chairs of the subsidiary bodies, the members of the Bureau, and all delegation for the commitments and effort in preparation decisions to be considered at this conference. The first global review of the global biodiversity framework present us with a reality that we must confront with responsibility. Fewer than half of the national biodiversity target assessed by parties are on track to be achieved by 2030. Although progress has been made in national commitments, conservation initiatives, and international cooperations, the pace of implementation remains insufficient to achieve the agreed targets by 2030. These findings must lead to concrete decisions and real results for the communities and our territories. We need to strengthen means of implementation, expand national capacities, facilitate access to technologies and knowledge, and mobilize sufficient, predictable, and accessible financial resources. We need to produce results as soon as possible. For developing countries, particularly those endowed with extraordinary biological richness, finances is an essential condition for fulfilling international commitments. Articles 20 and 21 of the convention provide the foundation for advising a financial architecture that responds to implementation needs, upholds the obligation of developed country parties and facilitates effective access to resources. Environmental ambition must be matched by the means necessary to turn it into results. Under the ABC agenda of President de la Sereia, Patria Milagro, water, biodiversity, and communities, the government has prioritized these three pillars, and we reaffirm our conviction that biodiversity, conservation, must be closely connected to water security, sustainable development, and the well-being of communities, including those affected by the earthquake, whose recovery must be sustainable and resilient. Indigenous people play a fundamental role in biodiversity conservation, particularly in the Amazon, which is the home to nearly 10% of the world's known species. Their ancestral knowledge and the protection of their territories, including those of Indigenous Peoples in voluntary isolation and initial contact, are essential to safeguarding ecosystems of exceptional ecological value and advancing the objectives of the coming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This integrated vision also reflects the spirit of the coming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. translating the global commitments into concrete actions that responds to the needs of people and nature. This agenda is grounded in a clear principle. The environmental must be placed at the center of decisions concerning development, productivity, security, and investment. Colombia will continue to engage constructively into this collective effort. convinced that international cooperation must be deliverable, tangible benefits for biodiversity and for the communities that depends upon it. This conviction also guides a new chapter in our country's environmental policy. Our objective is to move towards a regenerative development model that goes beyond reducing environmental impacts contributing to ecosystem restoration, the recovery of natural capital, and new opportunities of well-being and prosperity, with the private sector playing a key role in driving investment and nature-positive solutions. Colombia firmly believes that protecting nature and promoting productive development are not opposing objectives. Biodiversity conservation can and must be generate opportunities for development, employment, and well-being. Our vision can be summarized in three commitments: protect to produce, restore to grow, conserve to prosper. From this perspective, we reaffirm our commitment to the objective of the Convention on Biological Diversity. and to the implementation of the coming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. I am confident that this conference will be a success, one firmly focused on implementation, a conference capable of recognizing progress, clearly identifying gaps, and developing effective responses. We need decisions that strengthen financing, promote scientific and technological cooperation, facilitate the implementation of national biodiversity strategies, and enable us to measure the results achieved. The success of this conference will not depend only on the number of decisions we adopt, but on whether we can drive real action in our countries and in our communities. Today, as we hand over the COP16 presidency, Colombia reaffirms its commitment to solution-oriented multilateralism, grounded in dialogue, mutual respect among parties, and shared responsibilities. We express our confidence in Armenia's leadership and our readiness to contribute constructively to the work of this conference. The transition we undertake today represents the continuity of a collective effort that transcends governments, borders, and negotiation cycles. The presidency changes hands, but our commitment to biodiversity and to future generations remains unchanged. May COP17 be remembered as a moment when the international community chose to accelerate actions, strengthen cooperation, and turn commitments into results for our communities. Thank you very much. With that, I hereby declare open the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. and the 12th meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the parties to the Cartagena Protocol. As Colombia was not a party to the Nagoya Protocol, Ms. Neka Nicholas of the Antigua and Barbuda was elected president of the fifth meeting to the parties to the Nagoya Protocol. I now invite Ms. Nicholas to open the sixth meeting of the parties to the Nagoya Protocol.

Thank you, Mr. Olati. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, representatives of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, ladies and gentlemen. It is my honor to address you today as I conclude my tenure as the President of the COPMOP 5 of the Nagoya Protocol. I wish to express my sincerest appreciation to all parties, the Bureau, the Secretariat, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, women, youth, observers and partners for their unwavering commitment to advancing the objectives of the Protocol and for allowing me to serve you in this role. Over the past two years, parties have demonstrated that multilateral cooperation delivers results together. We strengthened the implementation architecture of the protocol through important decisions on capacity building, awareness raising, and the assessment of effectiveness. We also reached a significant milestone on digital sequence information. noting the establishment of the Cali Fund and the multilateral mechanism for benefit sharing. Most importantly, this period has given us something we have never had before: evidence. With 118 national reports submitted and the completion of the second assessment and review, we now have a clearer picture of how the Protocol is functioning in practice. The findings show that both monetary and non-monetary benefits are being shared, including through technology transfer, scientific cooperation and capacity building. At the same time, they highlight the continuing need for adequate and predictable financial resources and strengthened implementation support. Excellencies, COPMOT 6 therefore marks a pivotal moment of the Protocol. For the first time, our discussions can be guided not only by aspiration, but also by experience and evidence. The question before us is not simply how implementation is progressing today, but what kind of protocol we want five, 10, and 15 years from now. As developments continue across other international processes, our response must be rooted in cooperation, coherence, and mutual supportiveness. We must make the best use of our collective resources and ensure that the Protocol continues to contribute meaningfully to biodiversity conservation, sustainable use and equitable development. The evidence before us also calls for a broader perspective. While the Protocol remains an important legal framework, it should increasingly be seen as an instrument for innovation, partnership, sustainable development and inclusive prosperity. As parties begin their deliberations, I encourage us all to approach our work in a spirit of openness, compromise, and shared...

Armenia, and for electing me President of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and President of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena and Nagoya Protocols. I accept this responsibility with a deep sense of duty and the firm commitment to serving all parties impartially and facilitating our collective work towards meaningful outcomes. To Executive Secretary Astrid Schomaker and the Secretariat, thank you for the hard work, much of it invisible, and your invaluable contribution to the preparations for this meeting. I would also like to acknowledge the leadership of Colombia during COP16 in Cali and express my appreciation to the COP16 presidency and the COP Bureau for their contribution in advancing our collective agenda and for passing this gavel to Armenia. We take it with respect and with every intention of carrying it forward with the same rigor you brought to Cali and Rome. A gavel passed forward symbolizes a legacy inherited from one to another. Each presidency inherits what the last one builds and hands forward what it is able to achieve. That chain is this convention's great strength. It is also a great responsibility because the gavel is not merely a symbol of authority. It is a call to guide our collective work towards meaningful results. I would also like to recall an important step Armenia took in the lead up to this conference. On 15 and 16 October, Yerevan hosted the Leaders for Nature Summit, bringing nature and biodiversity to the forefront of the high political dialogue. The summit culminated in adoption of the Yerevan Declaration, taking action for nature, reflecting a shared recognition that our commitments must translate into concrete action. And we see the summit as an important part of the road to COP17, a call for leadership, stronger cooperation, and a whole of a government and whole of society approach to implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. In 2010, in Nagoya, the Conference of the Parties adopted 20 targets nearly as ambitious as the 23 we carry today, but by 2020, Not one had been fully met. The targets were never the problem. The problem instead is in the system to translate this global ambition into national targets, to implement at the national level, and to track and monitor progress. At COP15, parties addressed this gap and put in place not only the Kunming-Montreal Framework, but also an important system for planning, monitoring, review, and reporting. to carry forward the mission of the framework. Over the course of the next two weeks, we will review the collective progress made in the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. And today, dear delegates, we have a unique chance to correct the course of our correct trajectory. This is the opportunity Yerevan is providing. The evidence from the global report, the most comprehensive evidence base ever produced for work achieved under the Convention, manifests an unprecedented level of collective commitment that the KMGBF has received. It has drawn on 129 national reports, 89 national biodiversity strategies and action plans, and 162 countries putting in place national targets. More have been put forward since, yet despite all efforts, fewer than half of national targets assessed by parties as currently on track. And this is why the Yerevan pathway matters. We need to agree on concrete ways forward, forward will around increased ambition, accelerated implementation, the central topic of the means of implementation, advanced whole of government, and whole-of-society approaches, and consolidated monitoring and knowledge management systems. Agreeing on such a pathway will be critical to ensure we are meeting our 2030 targets and four overarching goals by 2030, and our vision by 2050. Let me tell you briefly how Armenia intends to carry this particular baton. As President of the Conference of the Parties, I am committed to ensuring that the views and concerns of all Parties, large and small, are heard and given due consideration. Over recent months, I have engaged extensively with delegations, and these consultations have underscored both the diversity of perspectives and the shared responsibility that brings us together. We recognize that gaps in reporting do not necessarily reflect gaps in implementation, and that shortcomings in progress may seem as much from insufficient resources and capacities as from other challenges. At the same time, the credibility of collective review depends on our ability to translate its findings into meaningful follow-up and tangible results on the ground. Over the next two weeks, our task will be to bridge the differences, build consensus, and ensure that COP17 and the concurrent meetings of the two protocols deliver results commensurate with the urgency of the challenges before us. The Armenian presidency team will engage with all delegates to identify points of convergence and support the efforts of our distinguished chairs of the working groups and co-chairs of the contact groups. In doing so, we will strive to shape consensual outcomes where everybody will feel a sense of ownership and nobody will feel excluded. For the Armenian presidency, there are no unimportant topics. While acknowledging the central topic of the global review, we will exert efforts to address all the items that COP 17, MOP 12, and MOP 6 are tasked to achieve progress on, including resource mobilization and a financial mechanism, biodiversity and climate change, synthetic biology, digital sequence information on genetic resources, operationalization, that's a hard word, of this subsidiary body on Article 8j and other provisions under CBD. In line with our pledge to hold an inclusive COP, we will listen to and take into account the views of Indigenous Peoples and local communities and relevant stakeholder groups, civil society, women, youth, academia, local authorities, and business and finance, among others. The challenges we face are too big to be addressed by governments alone. The challenges we face. The story, the parallel forums, thematic days and numerous side events to take place will inform and support negotiations outcomes. And I'd also like to congratulate the youth, in particular the Global Youth Biodiversity Network, who held an impactful global youth summit for biodiversity. Global Youth Summit for Biodiversity, together with our many youth organizations this past weekend. So let this be the promise Yerevan makes. Let us use this momentum to take action for nature, for the present and future generation. I wish you successful deliberations. Thank you. And I now invite you all to hear opening remarks in the joint plenary session of COP 17, COP MOP 12 of the Cartagena Protocol, and COP MOP 6 of the Nagoya Protocol. And it is my pleasure to invite Madame Austria Schumacher, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, to deliver her welcome remarks. Please.

Good morning, everybody. One more speech. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, distinguished representatives of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, dear participants, welcome to the UN Biodiversity Conference 2026. Thank you again, Armenia, for hosting us, for your dedication and energy, for your warm welcome, for the amazing show last night. And thanks to all of you for having come to Yerevan. Four years ago in Montreal, the world came together to adopt an ambitious blueprint for living in harmony with nature, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. It was a defining moment for environmental multilateralism. A moment when the international community united around a common vision and 23 targets to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030. A moment of optimism where we all saw what is possible when we unite. At COP15, we made history. COP16 put important mechanisms in place and pushed the agenda forward. COP17 is now an opportunity to build on and double down on these achievements. For the first time, we're holding up a mirror to our collective progress. Halfway to 2030, the just launched State of Biodiversity Action Report provides a clear picture of implementation since the framework's adoption. It reveals both remarkable mobilization and considerable unfinished business. The global report tells us that progress is not yet occurring at the pace or scale we need. Implementation is uneven across the 23 targets. The widest gaps are found in areas requiring deep economic and societal transformation. They pertain to finance, harmful incentives, changes in business practices and in consumption. The global review must respond. charting a clear pathway forward, the Yerevan pathway. To course correct, COP must act with accountability, alignment, and acceleration. First, accountability. In 2022, 196 countries made commitments. But we are all accountable to each other and to future generations. What happens here in Yerevan matters. Billions of people whose lives are being upended by the impacts of biodiversity loss, depend on progress being made here in the next two weeks. Second, alignment. Aligning national action with global ambition, finance with the needs of nature, consumption and production with the finite resources of our planet. Third, acceleration. Only four years separate us from 2030. To fast track action, we need to open spaces for greater whole-of-society engagement. So let us then enable and empower indigenous peoples and local communities, women and youth to do even more. There is untapped energy and ideas we cannot afford to waste. And we need even greater engagement from cities, businesses and financial institutions. In short, we need all hands on deck. Distinguished delegates, the science is clear. No nation, no economy, no society is immune from the impacts of biodiversity loss. But what is equally clear is that taking action for nature does work. Over the coming days, you will consider more than 50 agenda items under the convention and the Cartagena and Nagoya protocols. The decisions you will adopt need to send the right signal for the way ahead. This means leveraging science, the lifeblood of the Convention and its protocols for policy and action. From health and agriculture to protected areas, forest, synthetic biology, biosafety, invasive alien species, marine and island biodiversity, and biodiversity-climate change linkages, and others, decisions must reflect the latest science. This conference in Yerevan is also an opportunity to discuss coordination and policy coherence. including greater Rio Convention synergies as catalysts of progress. However, even the best decisions you will take at this conference will be meaningless if there is no capacity to implement, monitor, make informed decisions and manage risks. The strong focus on building equity is necessary. Progress on closing the finance gap, making the Cali Fund work, supporting our technical and scientific cooperation support centers will be among what makes this conference a success. These issues must be discussed with everybody at the table. Let me thus conclude by thanking a number of institutional donors and parties that have generously supported the participation of delegates from developing countries and from indigenous peoples and local communities. Thank you, Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Principality of Monaco, and the Republic of Korea. Dear friends, it is now time for taking action for nature, for all people and all life on Earth. Once again, the world is mobilizing. Indigenous peoples and local communities, women, youth, judges, business leaders, mayors, scientists, farmers and fisherfolk, financial actors, and many others have come here to Yerevan to share their solutions, innovations, and AI, ancestral intelligence, that can help us all achieve our objectives. So let us seize that moment. Thank you.

I thank Ms. Schumacher for those inspiring words and on behalf of all parties and also on my own behalf, I'd like to convey to the Executive Secretary and her team our deep appreciation for their tireless efforts over many months in preparing this meeting and for so many other meetings and processes that have been contributed to them. Colleagues, In a moment, I will adjourn the meeting for a couple of minutes so that we may reorganize the podium. Before doing so, allow me to express my deep appreciation to the COP16 presidency through Mr. David Felipe Olar de Amaya and to the government of Colombia for their commitment to biodiversity, which has been truly remarkable. I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to the Nagoya MOU 5 president, Ms. Neka Nicholas, of Antigua and Barbuda for their commitment to the work of the Nagoya Protocol. Thank you. Colleagues, this meeting is now adjourned. Please remain seated. We will resume very shortly. Thank you. Distinguished delegates, let us continue. Please be seated. We are starting. We will now have an opportunity for brief statements from the regional groups, representatives of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and major stakeholder groups. All groups are encouraged to present consolidated statements covering the Convention and the Protocols, in particular relating to the main focus of the present meetings. Due to the limited time, I will not invite statements from individual parties. However, parties who have prepared a written statement and wish to make it available may upload it under agenda item 1 the upload statement facility on the meeting website. So that we're all clear on the use of the microphones, I'll ask the Secretary to provide some information on their use, as well as a few other relevant logistical announcements. Secretary, you have the floor, please.

Thank you, Mr. President, distinguished delegates. The Secretary is pleased to offer some information regarding the use of microphones and other relevant logistical information. For the microphones, if you wish to speak, request the floor by pressing the button in front of you. The light will turn green. When the chair gives you the floor, the technician will activate your microphone. the light will turn red and you may start speaking. Representatives of observer organization will be sharing a microphone with other organization of the same constituency. Once your microphone is on, please identify your organization before commencing your statement. Delegates are requested to keep within the assigned time when taking the floor and to speak at a reasonable speed to facilitate the work of the interpreters. A clock is provided for you on the screen to help you to manage your time, but please do not speed up your reading. A delegate's microphone may be turned off when the time limit for the intervention has been reached. Next, regarding headsets. Headsets are hanging in bags on the armrest of each chair. When the session is over, kindly return the headset to the bag. Next, uploading the statement. Delegates are requested to upload their written statement using the upload statement facility on the meeting webpage. In case of any technical difficulties with uploading to the portal, kindly send an e-mail to cbd-statements@un.org. with a copy to secretariat@cbd.int. It greatly facilitates the work of the interpreters if you upload your statement prior to delivery. However, they will be posted on the website only after delivery. In any case, statements must be submitted within one hour after the close of the session in which the agenda item was considered. Please make sure to include the name of your country or organization and the agenda item on the first page of the document that is uploaded. In the event that a Party or observer has submitted more than one version of the statement, we will only consider the most recently uploaded version. Next, regarding emergency measures in the meeting venue. Let me offer now some brief instruction on what to do in case of an emergency situation. Please calmly proceed to the nearest exit and make your way to one of the three marked assembly points. They are located as follows. In front of the main entrance, drop off areas in the area near the delivery gate and to the left of the building near the hill. This assembly points are marked on the venue maps and we kindly ask you to take note of their locations. Distinguished delegates, I take this opportunity to remind participants of the code of conduct in place to prevent harassment at UN system events. Based on this code of conduct, all UN system events are guided by ethical and professional standards, and all participants are expected to behave with integrity and respect toward everyone involved here at these meetings. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. Before I give the floor to the regions for their statements, I would like to recognize the presence of His Excellency, Mr. Wang, Minister of Ecology and Environment of China, who was the president of COP15 when we adopted the landmark Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. With his continued support and dedication to the implementation of the framework, he has once again demonstrated the strong leadership of China by hosting the Kunming Dialogue on collective progress in implementation of the KMGBF in support of the global review. Co-chaired by His Excellency Minister Wang and the representative of the Government of Canada, the Kunming Dialogue provided important input to the global review of collective progress in the implementation of the KMGBF, which will be considered under COP agenda item 9 here in Yerevan. And I have the great pleasure to invite His Excellency to provide a statement on the outcome of the closing dialogue. Excellency, you have the floor.

Honorable Minister Mato Oshyan, Executive Secretary Schomaker, dear delegates, good morning to you all. In 2022, as the COP15 presidency, China worked with all parties to achieve the landmark Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. From September 7 to 9 this year, we jointly convened the dialogue on collective progress in implementing the framework in Kunming, China. Focusing on the gaps and challenges in achieving the 2030 action targets, we held in-depth exchanges and discussions on five themes: the formulation of national targets and NBSAP, promotion of implementation, means of implementation, role of government and society engagement, and data and knowledge. The dialogue produced a co-chairs summary for the UN and a conference report. The Kunming dialogue fully affirmed the party's efforts to halt and reverse global biodiversity loss. However, it also objectively noted that the gap between global collective actions and the ambitions of the framework remains significant. with developing countries facing particularly prominent difficulties in implementing the 2030 targets. All parties must take systematic and transformative measures to more vigorously advance biodiversity conservation, ensuring the timely realization of the framework's goals and targets. Now, on behalf of the co-chairs, I would like to highlight opinions and recommendations in five areas for this conference reference. One, base national targets on national realities and formulate them scientifically. High-level political will should be further strengthened, cross-departmental and sectoral coordination enhanced, and working mechanisms improved. In light of national conditions, development priorities, and implementation capacities, the KMGBF targets, including the 30 by 30 protected areas, resource mobilization, and the restoration of degraded ecosystems, should be translated into quantifiable and accessible national indicators. Countries should accelerate the formulation, updating, and implementation of NBSAP to ensure national targets are effectively implemented. Biodiversity targets should be fully integrated into national development plans and policy systems, better aligned with the framework, and actively mainstreamed. Two, identify implementation gaps and enhance action effectiveness. This global review should be used to take a comprehensive stock of implementation progress, conduct follow-up assessments, objectively identify gaps and shortcomings, systematically summarize typical practices and successful experiences, and strengthen exchanges, mutual learning, and wider application. Focus should be on weak links, such as improving the quality and efficiency of conservation and restoration, reforming harmful subsidies and promoting sustainable production and consumption. Implementation pathways and policy tools should be further optimized, measures specified, timeframes clarified, implementation accelerated, and a comprehensive, balanced, and effective implementation of the framework advanced. Three, strengthen compliance guarantees and continuously enhance implementation capacity. Developing countries should accelerate the fulfillment of their commitments on resource mobilization and capacity building, deepen STC and technology transfer, and strengthen technical assistance, training, talent development to help developing countries enhance their compliance capacity. Incentives harmful to biodiversity should be reduced, channels for biodiversity investment and financing broadened, green financial products and services innovated, and social capital attracted. Mechanisms for access to generic resources and benefit sharing should be improved to promote conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Synergy among the MEAs should be strengthened with goals aligned, indicators coordinated, and resources shared to increase overall governance effectiveness. Four, improve participation mechanisms and broadly forge synergies. Publicity and guidance should be strengthened to raise societal awareness of the conservation. Channels for public participation should be open, and enthusiasm of local governments, enterprises, social organizations, as well as indigenous peoples and local communities, women, and youth should be fully mobilized to build a positive pattern of whole-of-society co-governance. Community co-management mechanisms should be improved with coordination between conservation and development promoted through methods such as ecological compensation. Enterprises should be guided to regularly monitor, assess, and disclose biodiversity risks and impacts, integrate conservation requirements into their production and operations, and promote green and low-carbon transformation. Research institutions and think tanks should be better supported with basic research strengthened to provide evidence for decision making. Five, solidify the data foundation and strengthen monitoring capacity building. A monitoring network for ecosystems and species resources should be established with unified monitoring indicators, data standards, and technical specifications, and enhanced monitoring capacity. Remote sensing, AI, and environmental DNA, and other technologies should be better applied to improve monitoring efficiency. Multi-data, including scientific monitoring, traditional knowledge, citizen science, and corporate data should be integrated with shared platforms established and global biodiversity data platforms more interconnected. Data sharing and knowledge exchange should be promoted to provide strong support for scientific decision making. Dear delegates, protecting biodiversity is a common cause of all humanity. We look forward to all parties building consensus and strengthening cooperation, accelerating the implementation of the KMGPF through more pragmatic actions, and contributing wisdom and strength to building a community of all life on Earth where all things coexist in harmony. I thank you all for your listening.

Thank you, Minister Huang. I am now pleased to give the floor to the representatives of the regions for brief statements. Statements should be limited to four minutes, and I remind you that the microphones will be cut off when the allotted time has been reached. I ask those who wish to take the floor on behalf of their regional group to request the floor now. Thank you. First, I give the floor to Senegal on behalf of the African region. Senegal, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Senegal is speaking on behalf of the Africa Group. Allow me to congratulate the government of Armenia for the presidency, and allow us to thank the people of Armenia for their hospitality. Mr. President, COP17 is a decisive moment, the first review of the global framework As us face a worrying reality. Progress has not been in line with the ambitions of COP 15 because the means for implementation agreed upon in Montreal were not provided at the necessary scale. African countries have intensified their efforts, particularly when it comes to updating. The national biodiversity strategies and action plans, but. Keeping to commitments in terms of support must be accelerated in line with paragraph four of Article 20 of the convention. We must move from commitment to action with strengthened support and national action. Mr. President, the African continent is rich in biodiversity, but it's threatened, particularly when it comes to indigenous people, local communities, women, and young people whose livelihoods and cultural heritage depend on biodiversity. The conclusions of the review are a warning for the biodiversity agenda. We must strengthen means for implementation, particularly appropriate financial resources, capacity building, technology transfer, equitable and fair sharing of DSI derived benefits. The Africa group supports identifying levers for acceleration. There are three essential areas of work for Africa. Solid implementation resources. Let's recall that financing mechanisms, financial mechanisms under the authority and control of the COP are necessary. We need to have predictable and appropriate financing, capacity building, technical cooperation, Technical and scientific cooperation, these were at the heart of COP15. Target 19 is a sign of this. Africa calls upon developed countries to shoulder their obligations, including $20 billion by 2025 and $30 billion from 2025 to 2030. We ask that the COP clearly indicate here how those levels of financing will be achieved. Two, strengthened commitment. for approaches that involve societies and public authorities. Three, on DSI, advantages under 8, the Cali Fund, the Multilateral Fund. These must effectively contribute to the Convention and the Nagoya Protocol. Only a few enterprises have contributed some so far as of October 2026. We must strengthen governance and capitalization by enterprises that benefit from DSI. It's in this spirit of consensus that Africa will clarify its priorities over the course of our deliberations at the COP 17. We would like to thank the partners who supported us, including UNEP, WWF, NEPAD, the African Development Bank, and other partners allowed for effective participation of the African group. Thank you.

Thank you, African region. I now give the floor to Jordan from the Asia and the Pacific region. Jordan, you have the floor.

As Executive President of COP17, Executive Secretary, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of Asia and Pacific region. At the outset, we express our sincere appreciation to the government and people of Armenia for hosting COP17 and for their commitment to advancing global biodiversity action under the theme, Taking Action for Nature. This conference comes at a critical moment. The first global review of collective progress towards the coming Monteria Global Biodiversity Framework must serve not merely as an assessment of our commitments, but as a catalyst for accelerated, fair, and equitable and effective implementation. In this regard, We would like to commend China for hosting coming dialogue on collective progress in the implementation of coming Montreal Biodiversity Framework in coming city, Yunnan province, on 7 to 9 September 2026. The Asia-Pacific region is home to extraordinary biological and cultural diversity, encompassing mountains, forests, drylands, wetlands, islands, coral reefs, and extensive marine ecosystems. These ecosystems sustain our food system, water security, livelihoods, economics, and the well-being of present and future generations. Yet, our region facing mounting and interconnected pressures from biodiversity loss, climate change, land degradation, desertification, water scarcity, pollution, and invasive alien species. The Asia-Pacific region wishes to emphasize five key priorities. First, means of implementation must match our global ambition. Developing countries, this development countries and small island developing states required finance that are adequate, credible, timely, fair and equitable, easily accessible and additional financial resources, including those provided by developed country parties in accordance with Article 22 of the Convention, alongside access and transfer of technology, capacity building, and scientific and technical cooperation. Ambitious global targets cannot be achieved without the necessary means to implement them nationally. Second. The global review must lead to practice and facilitating action. Progress should be assessed in a transparent, balanced, and inclusive manner, taking into account national circumstances, capacities, priorities, and different starting points. Identifying gaps must be translated into targeted, supported, and concrete measures to accelerate implementation rather than impose additional partners on countries already facing significant constraints. Third, biodiversity conservation must address the resilience of our ecosystems and commitments for protected areas, OECMs, ecological...

Thank you. I now give the floor to Jamaica. from the Group of Latin America and the Caribbean. Jamaica, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. Madam Executive Secretary, Astrid Schumacher, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of Latin America and the Caribbean. We would like to express our appreciation to the Government and people of the Republic of Armenia for their leadership and kind hospitality in hosting COP17 and related meetings, and to the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity for its continued hard work in advancing the work of this Convention. The Latin American Caribbean region comprises rich biodiversity and cultural heritage. Our countries are stewards of a large percentage of the world's species and globally significant ecosystems, including marine and coastal ecosystems, which are critical to the conservation and sustainable use of the planet's biodiversity. We do not take this responsibility lightly. GRULAC is also home to mega diverse countries, as well as countries which are the most vulnerable to external shocks. These have had an adverse impact on our biodiversity and ecosystem goods and services that they provide. Despite these challenges, the region remains committed and steadfast in advancing the global biodiversity agenda. For GRULAC, the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and the fair and equitable benefit sharing are inseparable from sustainable development, poverty eradication, food security, and the well-being of our peoples. Mr. President, COP17 represents a critical opportunity to take stock of collective progress in achieving the targets of the KMGBF and to translate our shared commitments into concrete results. The global review must provide a clear and balanced assessment of progress, identify implementation gaps and strengthen the provision of means of implementation, including capacity building, technology transfer, international cooperation to achieve the framework's 2030 targets. As a region, we recognize that despite important efforts by parties, the global community is currently off track in the achievement of the KMGV targets. Indeed, the systemic challenges faced by parties in implementation of targets long-term financing, capacity constraints, lack of policy coherence at the national level, and issues related to monitoring and availability of baseline data and information must be addressed as we seek to redouble our efforts towards the achievement of our 2030 biodiversity commitments. We underscore that ambition must be matched by adequate, predictable and acceptable means of implementation. The provision of new and additional financial resources, capacity building, scientific and technical cooperation and environmentally sound technology transfer remain essential, particularly for developing countries. These are not optional elements of implementation. They are fundamental to achieving our common objectives in accordance with the Convention and its relevant provisions. Gurila also stresses the importance of strengthening resource mobilization, ensuring effective access to biodiversity finance, and advancing international cooperation in a manner that reflects national circumstances and priorities. Indeed, as we still struggling to make meaningful progress on the implementation of Target 19, which adversely impacts the achievement of all our targets, GRLAC reiterates its concerns regarding the persistent biodiversity finance gap, declining ODA, increasing debt burdens, and limited fiscal space in developing countries, particularly countries that no longer qualify for ODA. GRLAC supports mobilizing resources from all sources, including domestic, private, South-South, and innovative financing, but stresses that these must rather than replace developed countries obligations on the articles 20 and 21 of the convention. Implementation must be supported by an enabling international environment and respect for the principles of equity, transparency and accountability. GULAG expresses particular concern that despite the establishment of the GBFF, many countries within our regions have yet to receive any disbursement from the fund. We call for substantial scaling up of resources and the simplification of access modalities. COP 70 is also an opportunity to advance operationalization.

Thank you.

I now give the floor to Ireland on behalf of the European Union. Please.

Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, I have the honor to address this plenary on behalf of the European Union and its 27 member states. We would like to express our appreciation to the people and government of the Republic of Armenia and the city of Yerevan for warmly welcoming us here to COP17, MOP6 and MOP12. We express our support for the incoming Armenian COP presidency and thank the outgoing Colombian COP presidency for its leadership and guidance. Four years after the adoption of the GBF, the need for taking collective action for nature at a global level has never been greater, as highlighted in the Global Review. Effective implementation of the framework at all levels is critical to ensure that we address the interdependent triple planetary crises of biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution. We welcome the productive discussions and outcomes of the Kunming Dialogue, including the focus on practical implementation. We also note the importance of a sound scientific basis and of IPBES assessments and of maximising synergies with other MEAs at all levels. The European Union and its Member States have made great strides towards meeting the ambitious targets set at COP15, but there are areas we need to accelerate. We adopted the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and related initiatives that are designed to deliver on our international commitments. and this includes the 2024 Nature Restoration Law and national restoration plans. At the same time, fully implementing the GBF to deliver on its objectives in the face of global biodiversity crisis will require increasing means of implementation, including mobilizing resources from all sources. We remain firmly committed to this effort, including the exploration of complementary and innovative targets as envisaged under target 19 of the GBF. Collectively, we urgently need to accelerate the identification of incentives and eliminate, phase out or reform those that are harmful to biodiversity, while scaling up positive incentives in line with target 18 of the GBF. We encourage all parties and stakeholders, including the private sector and financial institutions, to strengthen their contributions to the implementation of the GBF and to align financial flows and incentives with the framework. We also affirm the need to consider pathways for systematically broadening the contribution base to increase international biodiversity finance. We remain committed to the full, effective and timely realization of the multilateral mechanism for benefit sharing for the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources, including the Kali Fund. We need to make it work effectively and fairly by implementing and fine-tuning the system with a focus on predictability, legal certainty and broad participation ahead of its review in COP18. Underlining the importance of capacity building and development, technical and scientific cooperation, we support adopting the work plan of the Global Coordination Entity for the Technical and Scientific Cooperation Mechanism. Drawing on the Global Knowledge Support Service for Biodiversity will help us to bring together tools and services to support the implementation. Mainstreaming is crucial for achieving the objectives of CBD, GBF and other Rio conventions. It requires strong engagement and actions from parties and stakeholders within and across all levels and sectors and all of society, focusing on addressing implementation gaps, enabling approaches and capacity building. We recognize the essential contributions for indigenous peoples and local communities, including women and youth. We are looking forward to working together constructively with all parties, indigenous peoples and local communities and stakeholders to ensure enhanced participation mechanism that safeguard and ensure the full and effective participation.

Thank you. I now give the floor to Norway, one of the countries of the Western European Others Group. They are not part of the European Union. Norway, please.

Thank you, Mr. President. Hambartsum Matvosyan, Minister of Environment of Armenia. Norway is making this statement on behalf of Canada, Iceland, Japan, Monaco, Switzerland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, New Zealand, and Australia as members of the Juscons Group. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the government of Armenia and to the Secretariat for their dedication and hard work in organizing this important biodiversity conference. Our delegations are deeply grateful to Armenia and the Armenian people for their warm hospitality and the generous welcome extended to us here in Yerevan. The first global review of collective progress marks a major milestone in implementing the KMGBF, providing a shared evidence base on where collective progress is being made, where implementation is falling short, and which barriers must be overcome. The overarching message from the global report is clear. While the framework has generated unprecedented global action across all 23 targets, the 2030 targets and mission will not be achieved unless collective implementation accelerates rapidly. Our task in Yerevan is to decide on concrete actions to help translate the findings of the review into stronger implementation on the ground. Recent discussions in Kunming have helped us to share experiences on how this can be achieved in practice, and we hope to build on that here at COP17 and in the follow-up. The findings and lessons from the Global Review should also inform timely consideration of the strategic direction beyond 2030. We believe that the Global Review decision will have to be understandable and digestible for the broader public to trigger real action on the ground. Therefore, some members of our group will suggest concrete additional elements of text in the contact group with the aim of filling the placeholder on the Kunming dialogue, speaking to a wider audience and triggering additional action. With less than four years remaining until 2030, our countries remain committed to supporting global efforts to meet all the goals and targets we have agreed to. This includes continuing to strengthen and expand the means of implementation, improving cooperation with other conventions and international agreements, frameworks and organizations, enhancing synergies between biodiversity and climate change, further improving the multilateral benefit sharing mechanism for DSI, building a system that supports participation by users of DSI and parties, advancing actions to ensure the full and effective participation of women and youth, indigenous peoples and local communities, while recognizing the social, cultural, regional regions, as well as further work on marine and coastal and island biodiversity. On the issues of resource mobilization, we remain committed to our obligations as developed country parties under the Convention. At the same time, we believe it is time to review and amend the list of developed country parties as mandated in Article 20 of the Convention. Our objective is to broaden the resource base available to support the implementation of the Convention and the KMGBF. Public finance will remain a cornerstone of implementation, while achieving the framework's ambitions will require mobilizing resources from all sources and addressing incentives harmful to biodiversity. During our time in Yerevan, our countries look forward to engaging constructively with everyone in this room, including with all parties, governments, indigenous peoples and local communities, relevant agreements, civil society, academia, and my time is up.

Thank you. I give the floor to Philippines on behalf of the ASEAN. Philippines, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, we express our appreciation to the Government and people of the Republic of Armenia for hosting the seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. We also thank the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity for the preparations for this meeting. We reaffirm our commitment to the achievement of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, particularly through the ASEAN Biodiversity Plan and our national biodiversity strategies and action plans. We reiterate our commitment to implement ecosystem-based approaches and/or nature-based solutions to protect, restore, and enhance ecosystems while ensuring sustainable use and management of our biodiversity. We reiterate the importance of strengthening means of implementation through enhanced regional cooperation, including financial resources, capacity building, and technical and scientific collaboration. We acknowledge the role of the S.A.N. Center for Biodiversity in mobilizing resources, including through the S.A.N. Biodiversity Fund, to support the implementation of the ABP and NBSAPs. We will advance measures that support the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources, including digital sequence information and associated traditional knowledge. We accelerate efforts to ensure adequate means of implementation, including financial resources, capacity building, technical and scientific cooperation, access to and transfer of technology, communication, and knowledge management. At the same time, we call upon the Secretariat to the Convention on Biodiversity to enhance the capacity of Asian member states in national monitoring and reporting. in line with decision 19/321 and streamline reporting tools. We call upon the parties to fulfill their commitment to target 19 of the KMGBF, in particular, to increase biodiversity-related international finance resources to 30 billion USD per year by 2030, while highlighting the need for a predictable biodiversity finance plan, as well as funding that is adequate, predictable, and easily accessible. We further call upon Parties to enable the government transfer, enable the development transfer and application of biodiversity-related technologies and innovations, including biotechnology, with adequate safeguards. We finally call for enhanced cooperation at regional and international levels, including transboundary cooperation, and recognize that technical and scientific cooperation.

Thank you why not give the floor to Saudi Arabia to give a statement on behalf of the League of Arab States Saudi Arabia please.

Thank you very much Madam executive secretary ladies and gentlemen Good morning to one and all. Saudi Arabia is honored to begin this statement and to be making it on behalf of the Arab Group. We sincerely thank Armenia for having welcomed this COP17. We're meeting when we are halfway to our goal, and we are going to be carrying out a review of our objectives in a collegial fashion. This should therefore be a collegial approach to understand better what countries need, we have to provide a number of tools to be able to speed up the pace of our work. We, our region, has an ancestral biodiversity. In fact, we have been described, we have Arab areas, we have oases, we have coastal areas, deserts, and our area therefore represents more than 4.5 million, 6.3 percent of the world population, whereas we only have a very small amount of resources in terms of drinking water. Now, in spite of these difficulties, we have not sat on our laurels, as it were. We've produced national reports, we intend to plant more than 50 billion trees in the area. That is an initiative which is known as the Green Middle East. We are going to rehabilitate more than 200 million hectares of degraded soil. We, Egypt, hosted in Sharm el-Sheikh, COP14, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia welcomed COP17 of the fight against desertification, and we have created a partnership to fight against desertification, increase resilience, and the promises, the pledges, pledges in general from our area are more than $12 billion, 10 billion coming from the Arab Coordination Group. This shows, among other things, that the solutions are actually within our reach. We can meet our obligations. Article 20, paragraph 2 of that article of the Convention invites us to be commensurate with the financing, for example, paragraph 4 of Article 2 invites us to facilitate the transfer of technology so that the developing countries can be able, can meet those commitments, those requirements. And we believe that it would be imperative to avoid going outside the scope of Article 20. We must stay within the scope if we wish to reclassify member states or if we wish to adopt a certain number of other criteria. In any case, it is extremely important for us to speed up the pace of our work. Thank you.

Thank you to all the representatives of the regions for their statements. Now I'd like to hear from the representatives of the Indigenous Peoples and local communities and the major stakeholder groups. And I remind speakers that statements should be limited to three minutes. Due to the limited time, I'll not invite statements from individual observer organizations. However, observers who have prepared a statement and wish to make it available may do so via the upload statement facility on the meeting webpage. And as those providing the information on behalf of the Indigenous Peoples and the local communities and the major stakeholder groups to request the floor when I come to their group. And first, I give the floor to the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity, representative of the Indigenous Peoples and local communities. IAFP, you have the floor, please.

Thank you, Chair. Our lands, waters, territories, cultures, and collective and customary governance structures are living systems that sustain and protect biodiversity every day. We reaffirm our commitment to achieving the KMGPF. At this halfway point in the framework's implementation, the global review must provide a clear, evidence-based assessment of progress, identify gaps and set out a concrete actionable pathway to 2030. This requires accurately reflecting the distinct roles, rights and contributions of indigenous peoples and local communities, women, youth, by avoiding the generic term "actors other than national governments". We welcome the establishment of an Artech and stand ready to work on the TK indicators, community-based monitoring and information systems and improving accessibility of the online reporting tool. COP 17 will be recognized as a historic moment through the adoption of a modus operandi of a subsidiary body on Article 8 that ensures continuity, coherence, clarity, and meaningful participation based on participation standards of the 8 working group. However, the modus operandi should not undermine these standards. It is imperative that nominations of the co-chairs and friends of the Bureau from the seven socio-cultural regions be carried out through our own governance structures, respecting our self-determination and established regional processes. Adoption of the voluntary guidelines developed on the task 1.1 and 1.2 of the AJ program of work as a key priority. We urge parties to maintain the integrity of the text already agreed as the AJ1. It is essential to recognize indigenous and traditional territories as distinct systems that contribute to the conversation. conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Our territories must not be forced into protected area categories or OACMs. We emphasize that direct access to finance for Indigenous peoples and local communities is already recognized in prior COP decisions. Direct access must support our priorities through our role on mechanisms and organizations. Any attempt to introduce requirements such as letters of support would create barriers and contradict the principles of accessibility, equity, and effectiveness. The Cali Fund must deliver real, timely, and direct funding to communities upholding the COP16 commitment that at least 50% of all DCI-related funding flows to Indigenous Peoples and local communities, while ensuring.

Thank you. Next will be Antigua and Barbuda on behalf of the Small Island Developing States, please.

Mr. President, Antigua and Barbuda has the honor to speak on behalf of the Caribbean Small Island Developing States present at this meeting. We would like to thank the government and people of Armenia for their incredible hospitality and warm welcome as we embark upon our negotiations. The Caribbean is a region of extraordinary biological diversity and ecological importance. Outstanding forests, wetlands, coral reefs, mangroves, seagrasses, coastal and marine ecosystems sustain our economies, our communities, and our cultural heritage. For Caribbean SIDS, biodiversity is not separate from development, but fundamental to our resilience, our livelihoods, and our future. Our region includes some of the most forested countries in the world, and the contribution of countries that maintain ecosystem of high ecological integrity is a contribution to the global good. While our region is biologically rich, we are also particularly susceptible to external shocks, which also make us very vulnerable. We face significant debt burdens and exposure to climate and biodiversity shocks, as well as constraints in human resources, institutional capacity, data, and access to finance due to, among other things, several of our countries no longer qualifying for ODA. For Caribbean SIDS, the central question at this COP is therefore not whether we are committed to implementation, but whether the international community will ensure that we have the resources, capacities, and enabling conditions necessary to turn that commitment into measurable action. We welcome the progress under decision 1634 and support continued work towards establishing the permanent arrangement for the financial mechanism under Article 21 of the convention. Adequate, predictable, accessible, and timely financial resources are indispensable for achieving the goals and targets of the KMGBF by 2030. We reaffirm the importance of the full implementation of Article 20 of the Convention and the achievement of Target 19 with international public finance at its core. Innovative and results-based instruments can complement, but it cannot replace public finance and should not add to the debt burden of developing countries. Biodiversity finance must therefore be able to respond to high debt servicing obligations, limited fiscal space, and repeated climate and biodiversity shocks. It must also become simpler, more responsive, and more effective. We call for simplified access procedures, reduced transition costs, and strengthened national capacities to develop and implement projects. We see significant value in greater coherence between biodiversity and climate finance, particularly for countries with limited institutional capacity, while maintaining the distinct obligations and objectives of the respective conventions. We further emphasize that biodiversity must be integrated into fiscal planning, budgeting, and economic decision making. This is essential if biodiversity is to be recognized not simply as an environmental concern, but as a foundation of long-term sustainable development. We welcome the work of the ATEC on the proposed Cali Fund allocation methodology, and in particular, the recognition of the special circumstances and needs of SIDS, and considers it a good basis to further our discussions. The participation and benefit sharing needs of indigenous peoples and local communities must also be properly reflected, including through flexible arrangements for direct, national, or hybrid access. The effectiveness of the Cali Fund will depend on meaningful capitalization and broad participation by users of DSI. We support measures that can generate predictable and sustainable contributions while ensuring that the fund delivers tangible benefits to those who conserve and sustainably use biodiversity. For us, capacity building is not simply about acquiring technical knowledge. In many cases, our challenge is limited number of skilled personnel available to undertake implementation, monitoring, and reporting. Capacity building resources should therefore strengthen national and regional institutions.

Ladies and gentlemen, just to clarify, as my screens were restarting, I missed the conference, so that's why I returned back to the conference statements again. not the country statements by the countries. So the next one will be South Africa on behalf of the like-minded megabiodiversity countries, please.

Thank you, Mr. President. South Africa has the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the group of like-minded megadiverse countries. As NLMCs, we express our profound gratitude to the government and the people of the Republic of Armenia for their warm hospitality and organization in hosting this pivotal conference in the beautiful biodiversity of Yerevan. We congratulate you on assuming the presidency of the COP17 and pledge our full cooperative support towards a successful outcome under the banner of taking action for nature. Mr. President, as a group of nations harboring the vast majority of Earth's biological wealth, the LMNC stands at the absolute frontline of global conservation efforts. We are not merely stakeholders. We are the primary stakeholders, custodians of the ecosystems that sustain human life. COP 17 marks a watershed moment. by reflecting on the global review of collective progress towards the 2030 targets of the KMGBF, including its means of implementation. While we welcome the initial steps taken worldwide, the state of biodiversity action, the global report on collective progress, underscores a sobering reality. We are facing a significant implementation gap. To close this gap and keep our 2030 targets within reach, we must shift immediately from pledges to integrated, fully funded, accelerated, high efficiency domestic action. To achieve this, the LMC underscores three pillars for our negotiations over the next two weeks. One, in accordance with Article 20 of the Convention, the ability of developing, including mega-divest nations, to fulfill their commitments depends strictly on developed nations meeting are legally binding obligations to provide new, additional and easily accessible financial resources. We call for a fair, transparent and accessible global biodiversity financial architecture with concrete measures to simplify access to funding, ensure transparent allocation of resources, that directly funds projects on the ground without imposing heavy administrative burdens and aligned with nationally identified priorities and strengthen capacity building, access to and transfer of technology. Scientific and Technical Cooperation 2. Following the historic launch of the Cali Fund at COP16, it is vital that the multilateral mechanism for benefit sharing from DSI becomes fully operational. Megadiverse countries must receive their fair share of these revenues. We call for implementation under conditions set out in Decision 16.2 of the provision that at least half of the fund should support priorities defined by IPLCs, including women and youth. These benefits must advance conservation and sustainable use without prejudice to national access benefit sharing mechanism. Three, we reaffirm the central role of IPLCs as key custodians and partners in biodiversity conservation while respecting rights, national legislation, local context, and inclusive decision making. The rights of must be respected, their additional knowledge protected with applicable safeguards for its access and use, and their full and effective participation in decision-making is shown. Women and youth, including within these communities, must have meaningful opportunities to participate in implementation and benefit from accessible support. Let us use this year of.

I'll now return to the organizations again. And I now give the floor to the CBD Women's Caucus, speaking on behalf of the women's organizations. CBD Women's Caucus, you have the floor, and you have the three minutes. Thank you.

Thank you, Chair. I speak on behalf of the CBI Women's Caucus, and it's more than 900 members. As an Armenian woman, it is particularly meaningful to take the floor here in Armenia. I would like to begin in my mother tongue, sharing a poem about Armenian women whose strengths and knowledge are deeply rooted in the history and future of this land. Women and girls in all our diversity are rights and knowledge holders and essential partners in biodiversity governance. we must be implicitly recognized, not invisible under the category of actors other than national governments. There is no whole of society without women. Yet, the midterm review of GPF shows that gender biodiversity data are insufficient and dedicated finance for women-led initiatives is limited. And now, a question for this room. Fewer than 10% of parties have submitted their reports on the implementation on the gender plan of action. How exactly are we mainstreaming gender here? As we undertake the first global review at COP17, let us ask, can we achieve the 2033 target by 2030 without the engagement of half of the world? Without indigenous, local community women, Afro-descendant women with disabilities, farmers, fishers, scientists and territorial defenders participating fully, effectively and safely, the answer is no. That is why we need to accelerate gender-responsive implementation of the 23 targets and advance the GPA. Ensure direct, predictable, adequate and flexible finance for women-led initiatives, along with culturally appropriate means of implementation. Integrate gender equality and human rights with robust safeguards and independent gender-responsive grievance and redress mechanisms. guarantee the full, effective and safe participation of all women in decision making. Before closing, we must address a barrier to our own participation. We are the recognized women major groups within CEBID and we are wanting to have persistent, among other situations, there.

Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm pleased to now give the floor to the representative of Global Youth Biodiversity Network. You have the floor and you have the three minutes, please.

Thank you, President. My name is Anna Shashaknezarian from Armenia, speaking on behalf of I hear echo really hard. It's okay. Okay. Thank you, President.

If possible, please resume the time for the youth.

Thank you.

Please, no.

Ignore it.

Thank you, President. Thank you, President. My name is Anna Shafak Nazarian from the, I can't, sorry. Echo is really disturbing, I'm so sorry. Thank you, President. My name is Anna Shafnazaryan from Armenia, speaking on behalf of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network. Our network is here as the international coordinating platform for youth. I can't because of echo. It really disturbs me.

It's okay, you can do it together.

You want to do that?

That's fine.

Should we wait a little?

Tell me when you're ready.

Should we start?

Do you want us to come back to you later?

Should we return to you later on if you want, if you want some time?

No, no, no. Let's do it.

Let's start again the time.

We will go to other speakers and then we'll come to the youth again. Okay. Couple of minutes for you. Okay. I now give the floor to ICLEI, the Local Governments for Sustainability, speaking on behalf of the subnational and local governments. ICLEI, you have the floor, please.

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, we address you on behalf of the subnational and local authorities, coordinated by ICLEI and Regions 4. COP17 represents an important milestone towards 2030, as it sees the culmination of the global review of the KMGBF. It also represents an historic moment for subnational and local authorities, marking the first ever review of engagement with subnational governments, cities and other local authorities to enhance the implementation of the KMGBF. As we gather in Yerevan to agree on accelerated action, subnational governments, cities and other local authorities remain fully committed partners in implementing the GBF. These authorities are often at the level of government, where biodiversity policy becomes concrete action and where commitments translate into tangible action on the ground towards national priorities and global targets. We welcome the first review as a critical milestone, but note with concern that subnational contributions are not systematically covered. To address the gap, we call for improved inclusivity to establish clear pathways that subnational contributions can be reflected. We encourage parties to implement successive COP decisions on engaging subnational and local authorities, and including the plan of action under decision 15/12. to ensure that, as part of government, subnational and local authorities continue to be identified as a distinct implementation constituency within whole of government. on biodiversity and climate change. We ask that local and subnational strategies, spatial plan, catchment and coastal management also reflect an ecosystem-based approach in integrating climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction. We recognize the efforts to extend the biodiversity finance gap. Subnational governments have shown that they can mobilize financial resources. and cities are increasingly introducing financial solutions to augment public and nature funding. Thank you to Armenia for hosting this COP, and we look forward to a successful COP.

I must say, that was perfect timing. So I now give the floor to a representative of civil society organizations. I'm on the right place right now. To a representative of civil society organizations, Civil Alliance, you have the floor, please. CBD Alliance.

275.

It's 275. 275, CBD Alliance.

Thank you, Chair. COP 17 must deliver the transformative change envisioned in the GBF. This requires more than better implementation. Parties must access whether the framework is addressing the root cause of biodiversity loss and the inequities that sustains them. The global review should identify implementation gaps, inadequate means of implementation, and structural benefits that prevent transformative change. The key challenge is the gap between commitments and continued authorization of subsidization of harmful activities. Mainstreaming cannot rely solely on voluntary commitments and reporting. Governments must regulate destructive industries and corporate actors, ensure accountability, strengthen impact assessment, guarantee public participation, and assess to justice, particularly for effective communities. Industrial agriculture continues to harm biodiversity, livelihood and human health. We need transition to sustainable, equitable and humane food system based on agroecology and peasant knowledge. Biodiversity must not be commodified, prioritized, or financialized. We reject biodiversity offsets, carbon offsets, nature markets, and other such approaches. Developed countries must fulfill their Article 20 obligations by providing public finance that is new, additional, and non-debt creating. Efforts to broaden the contributor base must not dilute those obligations or circumvent the convention. The permanent financial mechanism must be under COP authority and ensure direct access for developing countries, indigenous people and local communities, women and youth. Biodiversity finance must be equitable, rights-based and transformative. It should have strong safeguards, gender-responsive approaches and effective grievance mechanism. It must support Target 23 and gender plan action while addressing harmful subsidies sustainable debt and just financial system that incentivize destruction without exacerbating debt burdens and/or inequalities. Genetic resources, including the SI, must be protected from biopiracy and digital biopiracy. Greater database accountability and equitable benefit sharing are needed with safeguards against conflicts of interest. A precautionary approach must guide consideration of emerging technologies. Horizon scan monitoring and impact assessment are key for synthetic biology and LMOs. Testing and approval of GMO trees should stop in line with decision 8/9.

Thank you. I now give the floor to Business for Nature, speaking on behalf of the business organizations. Business for Nature, you have the floor, and then finally we'll go back to the youth again before adjourning this plenary. Please, Business for Nature.

Thank you, Mr. President. I'm making this statement on behalf of the International Chamber of Commerce and the Business for Nature Coalition. COP17 should accelerate the transition from commitments to implementation with meaningful participation by all, including businesses of all sizes and from all regions, and indigenous peoples and local communities. Businesses increasingly recognize the risks of nature loss and stand ready to continue to invest, innovate, and scale solutions, but need clear national strategies coherent policies, credible and investable implementation pathways, strengthen conditions to scale public and private investment in conservation, restoration, and sustainable use, as well as measures to address barriers that constrain private investment. We look forward to the adoption of the global review decision as a clear indication of where urgent action is needed. We call on parties to use this opportunity to accelerate action on target 18. Reforming harmful incentives and subsidies is critical, not only considering the limited progress reported on this target, but also because it's a key enabler of progress across multiple targets of the KMGPF. We also call on parties to ensure that the IPBES and mainstreaming decisions reflect the ambition of Target 15 and strengthen capacity building for governments to enable effective engagement with business and finance. This way, we can create the right enabling environment that will drive business action for nature.

Business is also committed to.

Continuing collaboration towards a workable multilateral mechanism for digital sequence information that delivers tangible benefits for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you for your statement. And now we'll go back to the Global Youth Biodiversity Network to give the statement on behalf of the youth, please.

Thank you, President. My name is Anna Shahnazaryan from Armenia, speaking on behalf of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network. Our network here is the international coordinating platform for youth in the Convention on Biological Diversity, bringing the voices of 80 national and regional chapters and 1.25 million young people from 172 countries around the world. As Armenian youth, we also warmly welcome you to our beautiful country, where young people are united by a shared commitment to take action for nature. Delegates, the COP17 logo, which you see all around us, represents the Yerevan blue butterfly, a species endemic to Armenia, found nowhere else in the world. So as the butterfly also carries an important and extremely relevant symbolism, that of transformation. In its transformation from egg to caterpillar to crazy list of wings adult, it reminds us that in order to go where we need to go, we must welcome fundamental change. We come to COP17 faced by biodiversity implementation gap that threatens the lives and futures of children and youth around the world. It's a gap that is not new. Over and over, we hear the same story from then until now, that we are not doing enough, not ambitious enough, not funding enough. And while this message is true, it is also at least incomplete and at worst dangerous. This is because it fails to expose the root of the problem that behind this implementation gap is a gap in addressing the inequalities and injustice that shape who has power, who has access to resources, and who is able to thrive. Dear delegates, our message is clear. To close the implementation gap, we must close the justice gap. And to close the justice gap, we must, like the butterfly, change and transform. This means we must admit and address shortcomings regarding equitable governance, meaningful participation, rights and consistency with KMGV of Section C, which are clear findings from the Global Report. COP17 must make a strong call to transform economic and financial systems, address sectors disturbed by diversity and underlying drivers of biodiversity loss. We must not erase the particularity of different actors, and we must enhance and improve the inclusiveness of biodiversity decision making. Delegates, in the next days, let us make the decision that allow KMGVF to grow wings. It must have the wings it needs to go as far as it can towards social ecological justice. This COP17, as we define the next steps towards living in harmony with nature, join us in closing the justice gap. Thank you, President.

Thank you. Global Youth Biodiversity Network, indeed, very well done. And thanks again. Thanks again to all the representatives of the Indigenous Peoples and local communities and major stakeholder groups for their statements. I now adjourn this joint plenary. And now we resume the plenary of COP17 to the Convention. Distinguished delegates, we'll now take up agenda item two on organizational matters. And under this item, I would first like to recall the composition of the current Bureau. At its 16th meeting, the Conference of the Parties elected 10 Vice-Presidents of the Bureau for a term of office commencing upon the closure of its 16th meeting and ending at the closure of its 17th meeting. Subsequently, two of the representatives were replaced by the Party concerned, in addition to the President. Thus, the COP Bureau currently comprises, in addition to the President, For the African states, and I apologize if I mispronounce the names, for the African states, Ms. Josephine Theresa Elendu of Cameroon, Mr. Jonas Kamou Anteh of Togo. For the Asia-Pacific states, Mr. Bilal Ktishat of Jordan. Ms. Ilham Ato Mohamed of Maldives, who was temporarily replaced by Mr. Midhat Rashid. For the Eastern European States, Ms. Adla Karic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mr. Bahromjon Holchujayev of Uzbekistan. For the Latin American and Caribbean States, Ms. Gillian Gault-Goutier of Jamaica. Miss Eliana Sisek of Argentina for the Western European and other state. Mr. Eric Skals of Luxembourg. Mr. Kaute Hansen of Norway. And we'll address the election of the vice presidents for the next intercessional period later this morning. Distinguished delegates, Let us now turn to the adoption of the agenda for the meeting of the Conference of the Parties. The provisional agenda for the meeting is contained in document CBD/CP/17/1/1, and it was prepared by the Executive Secretary in close consultation with and approved by the Bureau. I propose that the provisional agenda be adopted as the agenda for this meeting. And I was going to say, are there any objections? I saw the Russian Federation.

Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Chair. The Russian delegation wanted to note that point 10D is not at the appropriate level for a separate item on the agenda. In future, it should be considered only as part of the agenda relating to cooperation with international organizations and bodies created within the framework of other conventions. This is under item 13. In terms of improving the efficiency of the Convention's work and reducing the amount of work, This item should be united with item 13 and considered as a part of it, including reflection of substantive matters under this point in item 13. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you. As I understood, it's not an objection, it's a suggestion. The next is all of our year.

I don't.

I don't have any comment.

Thank you.

Thank you. That was very constructive of you. So now the agenda is adopted. And I now adjourn the meeting of COP17. Distinguished delegates, we will now resume the 12th meeting of the parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and I have the gavel again. We will begin with agenda item 2, and under this item, I would first like to recall the composition of the current Bureau. Further to Article 29, paragraph 3, on the Cartagena Protocol, the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention also serves as the Bureau of the Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol. At its 16th meeting, the Conference of the Parties elected 10 vice presidents for the term of office commencing upon the closure of its 16th meeting and ending at the closure of its 17th meeting. Subsequently, 12 of the representatives were replaced by the party concerned, in addition to the president. All vice presidents, but one represented at conference, that are also parties to the Cartagena Protocol, according for the purpose of MOP 12, and in addition to the president, the Bureau comprises. For the African states, Ms. Josephine Terraza Elundu of Cameroon, Mr. Jonas Komiante of Togo. For the Asia-Pacific States, Mr. Bilal Tishar of Jordan. Ms. Ilhamoto Mohamed of Maldives, who was temporarily replaced by Mr. Mirat Rashid. For the Eastern European States, Ms. Adla Karic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Mr. Pavrom Zhun. Khul Kujayev of Uzbekistan. For the Latin American and Caribbean States, Ms. Gillian Guthrie of Jamaica, Ms. Valentina Sierra of Uruguay. For the Western European and other States, Mr. Eric Squalls of Luxembourg, Mr. Gaute Halsen of Norway. Distinguished delegates, let us now turn to the adoption of the agenda for this meeting of the parties to the Cartagena Protocol. The provisional agenda for the meeting is contained in document CBD/CP/MOP.12/1. It was prepared by the Executive Secretary in close consultation with and approved by the Bureau. I propose that the provisional agenda be adopted as the agenda of this meeting. If there are any objections? I see none objections. The agenda is adopted. I now adjourn the 12th meeting of the parties to the Cartagena Protocol. Distinguished delegates, we will now resume the sixth meeting of the parties to the Nagoya Protocol. We will begin with item 2 on organizational matters. And under this item, I would first like to recall the composition of the Bureau. Further to Article 26, paragraph 3 of the Nagoya Protocol, the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention also serves as the Bureau of the Meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol. At its 16th meeting, the Conference of the Parties elected members of the Bureau for a term of office commencing upon the closure of its 16th meeting and ending at the closure of its 17th meeting. Subsequently, two of the representatives were replaced by the Party concerned, in addition to the President. The fifth meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol elected substitute Vice Presidents for those COP Bureau members representing a Party to the Convention that was not a Party to the Nagoya Protocol. Accordingly, for the purpose of MOP 6, the Bureau currently comprises, in addition to the President, for the African States, Ms. Josephine Teresa Eluando of Cameroon. Mr. Jonas Gomeante of Togo. For the Asia-Pacific States, Mr. Bilal Tichat of Jordan. Ms. Ilamotu Mohamed of Maldives, who was temporarily replaced by Mr. Mirat Rashid. For Eastern European States, Ms. Tita Kragos of Hungary. Mr. Kumar Mahmettaliev of Kyrgyzstan. For the Latin American and Caribbean States, Mr. Jeremiah Edmund of Saint Lucia. Ms. Eliana Saisac of Argentina. For the Western European and other States, Mr. Eric Schaus of Luxembourg. Mr. Kaute Hansen of Norway. Distinguished delegates, before we turn to the adoption of the agenda, allow me to note with great satisfaction that Armenia has completed its national process of ratification of the Novgorod Protocol. Armenia became the 143rd party on 6 September this year, and it is both an honor and a privilege for me to preside over this meeting of the parties as a representative of one of its newest parties. Our session reflects our strong commitment to the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Observers and partners in advancing their effective implementation. Thank you. Thank you. And with that, I now invite parties to turn their attention to the adoption of the provisional agenda for this meeting of the parties to the Nagoya Protocol. The provisional agenda is contained in document CBD/MP/MOP/6/1. It was prepared by the Executive Secretary in close consultation with and approved by the Bureau. And I propose that the provisional agenda be adopted as the agenda for this meeting. Any objections? I see no objections. The agenda is adopted. And I now adjourn the sixth meeting of the parties to the Nagoya Protocol. We now resume the joint plenary session of COP 17, Cartagena, MOP 12, and the Nagoya Protocol MOP 6. We will start this joint plenary session by addressing the organization of work for three meetings. Information on a proposed organization of work is provided in a scenario note, which bears the triple symbol, CBD/CP/17/1/Add.2, CBD/CP/MOP.12/1/Add.2, and CBD/MP/MOP/61/2. The scenario note describes how the proceedings of the meetings are foreseen. In particular, this document indicates that the meetings will establish two working groups and that most of the items on the agendas of the meetings will be referred to one or the other of these groups for consideration. The scenario note was prepared by the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties with the support of secretariat. And I now give the floor to the secretariat to introduce technical corrections to Annex III of the scenario under the sixth meeting of the conference of the parties, serving as the meeting of the parties to the Nagoya Protocol. Secretariat, please, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. On page 11 of the English version, under the morning session on Tuesday, 20 October, agenda item 9 should appear immediately following item 8 on enhancing the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol, as correctly indicated in table 3 of annex form, this item will not be open for full first reading. On page 11 of the English version, under the morning session on Tuesday, 20 October, following the agenda item 7 of the Nagoya Protocol, item 9 should be replaced with item 5 on report of the Compliance Committee. as correctly indicated in table 3 of annex 4. This item will be open for full first reading, including early submission of statements. On pages 12 and 13 of the English version, regarding the contact group sessions on digital sequence information on genetic resources on the evenings of Tuesday 20 October and Wednesday 21 October, as well as the afternoon of Thursday 22 October, the reference to agenda item 15 under the Nairobi Protocol should be deleted, as the contact group will be convened only under item 11 of the Convention. The Secretariat offers its apologies for any inconvenience caused by these technical inconsistencies. a revised version of the scenario note will be issued soon reflecting these technical uh Corrections thank you Mr. President.

Thank you I now propose that the conference of the parties to the convention and the meetings of the parties to the protocols approve the organization of work as presented in the scenario note and with the technical correction read by the Secretariat, including the establishment of the two working groups with the allocation of items as contained in Annex III to that document. Any objections? I see no objections. The organization of the work is approved. Thank you, colleagues. Let me make sure I found the right place now. Okay. So thank you, colleagues. The approval of the organization of the work will help us with the heavy agenda we have before us over the next two weeks. and to this end the organizational work includes measures to improve the efficiency of our proceedings in particular for agenda items where the draft decision has been prepared by intergovernmental subsidiary bodies the chairs of the working groups will not be inviting interventions instead In this case, the draft decision for an item would either be the basis for directly preparing a conference room paper, or a contact group would be established to undertake further negotiations. And I would like to advise you that contact groups under both working groups will follow a coherent approach and respect the terms of the references provided by the respective working group chairs when the contact group is established. However, when there are draft decisions or elements of draft decisions that have not been considered by intergovernmental subsidiary bodies, the working group chairs will invite interventions. I would like to seek your cooperation in managing these meetings in an efficient and effective manner. so that we can complete all the tasks ahead of us in the next two weeks and conclude the meetings as scheduled on a final day. Distinguished delegates, now we have established two working groups, and we must elect the chairs. for these groups. And taking into account the principle of equitable geographical representation, the Bureau has recommended Mr. Kaute Hansen of Norway be elected as Chair of Working Group 1, and Mr. Heciquio Benitez Diaz of Mexico be elected as Chair of Working Group 2. And may I take it that this is acceptable to the meeting? I see no objections, so it is so decided. I congratulate the two chairs on their election, and I look forward to working with them closely over the coming days. And we now need to elect our rapporteur. Earlier, I represented the composition of the current Bureau. One of the vice presidents of the Bureau is to serve as the rapporteur. The Bureau decided to recommend Ms. Josephine Theresa Elondo of Cameroon as the rapporteur for our meeting. May I take it that this meeting agrees to elect Ms. Elender as our rapporteur? I see no objections. It is so decided. I congratulate Ms. Elender for her election, and I invite her to take her seat on the podium, please. The Bureau also designated Ms. Ilam Ato Mohamed of the Maldives as a representative of the Bureau for the review of credentials. We'll hear more on the issue of credentials under item 3. Distinguished delegates, let us start now to the election of officers for the next inter- sessional period. The present meeting will lead to elect the Vice- Presidents for the Bureau and the chairs of the intergovernmental subsidiary bodies. For the Bureau, the Conference of the Parties is due to elect 10 Vice- Presidents, two per region, who will take office at the closure of the 17th meeting and serve until the end of the 18th meeting, and as needed, their respective meetings of the parties to the protocols will elect substitutes for any members of the COP Bureau who represent the party to the convention that is not a party to one or the other of the protocols. And for the chairs of the intergovernmental subsidiary bodies, as you are aware, the current chair of the subsidiary body for scientific, technical, and technological advice is Mr. Juan Bruno Mikasa of Gabon, while the current chair of the subsidiary body on implementation is Ms. Clarissa Souza de Lanina of Brazil. They will both continue in these offices until the end of this meeting. In accordance with Rule 26 of the Rules of Procedure, at the present meeting, the COP will elect a new sub-chair with the mandate until the end of COP18. According to the established regional rotation, it is expected that the sub-sector will be elected on a basis of the nomination from the regional of Western European and other states. Similarly, in accordance with Rule 26 and the modus operandi of the SBI, at the present meeting, the COP will elect a new SBI chair with the mandate until the end of COP18. According to the established regional rotation, it is expected that the SPI Chair will be elected on the basis of a nomination from regional of Eastern European states. As the subsidiary parties also serve the protocols, I encourage the regions to nominate candidates from countries that are also parties to the protocols. And I'd also like to draw your attention to decision 1628. paragraph 24 of COP 16, and the corresponding decisions of the COP MOPS, which confirmed that with regard to the contributions due from 1 January to the 1st January of 2005 onwards, parties that have been in errors with their contributions of two or more years are not eligible to become a member of the Bureau of the Convention. its protocols, or the subsidiary body on scientific, technical, and technological advice, or to nominate a member of a compliance committee. As per the decision, this limitation only applies to the parties that are not least developed countries or small island developing states. I would like to remind regions to take this decision into account when identifying their nominees. and I urge all the regional groups to submit their nominations to the secretariat for the aforementioned offices by close of business Wednesday 21 October. In our plenary session planned for Friday 23 October, I will invite each region to announce its nominees with the intention of conducting the elections by acclamation during that session. Early nominations and elections will facilitate a smooth transition between ongoing and in-going officers. And I thank you for your cooperation. I now adjourn the joint plenary. We now resume the meeting of COP17. Distinguished delegates, I now invite you to turn to item 4 on pending issues. Distinguished delegates, I now invite you to turn to item 3 of the pre-meetings, namely report on credentials. In accordance with rule 19 of the Rules of Procedure, the Bureau shall examine the credentials of delegations and report to the plenary. In this connection, I would like to remind delegates of Rule 18 of the Rules of Procedure, which requires that representatives shall submit their credentials no later than 24 hours after the opening of the meeting. In this regard, a notification from the Executive Secretary was sent to all parties on 28 April 2026, with the reminder sent on 10 September 2026. I therefore urge delegations that have not done so to submit their original credentials as soon as possible and no later than tomorrow, 20 October, at 10 a.m. to the Secretariat. And I thank you in advance for your cooperation on this important matter. You will recall that the Bureau designated Mr. Laamotu Mohamed of Maldives as representative of the Bureau to report to plenary on this matter. The report will be submitted to the plenary at its meeting on Friday, 23 October. I also wish to note that, in accordance with the relevant rules of procedure and decisions of the COP, the Bureau was informed of the list of the observers admitted to this meeting. The list may be found in information document number 20/1. 9. I now adjourn the joint plenary. And we now resume the meeting of COP 17. Distinguished delegates, I invite you to turn to item 4 on pending issues. The only pending issues before the Conference of the Parties relate to paragraph 1 of rule 40 of the rules of procedure and paragraphs 4 and 16 of the financial rules, which remain bracketed due to the lack of consensus among parties on the modus of decision making on matters of substance. The Conference of the Parties did not decision to adopt the outstanding rules, and therefore I propose that the issue be deferred until our next meeting. If there is no objections, and I see no objections, it is so decided. I would now like to consider agenda item 5, date and venue of future meetings of the Conference of the Parties. At this meeting, we need to decide on a date and venue of the 18th meeting. According to the regional rotation established by the COP, the 18th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, as well as the 13th meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol and the seventh meeting of the Parties to the New York Protocol are expected to be hosted by one of our parties from the region of the Latin American and Caribbean states, and this decision 1627, the Conference of the Parties invited parties from among the Latin American and Caribbean states to notify the Executive Secretary of their efforts, of their offers to host the 18th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, the 13th meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the parties to the Cartagena Protocol, and the seventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the parties to the Nagoya Protocol. I would like to ask the Secretary to provide an update on this matter. Please, Inonge.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I'm pleased to provide an update on item 5 on the date and venue of future meetings of the Conference of the Parties. As no formal offer to host the meetings had been received at that time from any party within the region of the Latin American and Caribbean.

States, the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties, at its meeting held on 12 August 2026, requested the Executive Secretary to extend.

An invitation to interested parties from all regions to express their interest to host the meetings. This step was being undertaken to facilitate timely identification of a host country without prejudice to the regional rotation arrangement established under Decision 13/33. Further to this notification, the Secretariat has received offers to host the meetings from three parties.

Consultations are underway and the outcome.

Or progress on these consultations will be reported at the next plenary session.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you. Thank you, Inonge. So, distinguished delegates, as you have heard, the Secretary has received offers from three parties, and we'll consider this item further at our next plenary session on Friday. And I now adjourn the meeting of COP17. And I now resume the joint plenary. Distinguished delegates, I now turn to item 6 under the Convention, item 4 under the Cartagena Protocol, and item 4 under the Nagoya Protocol on the reports of the inter-Sessional and Regional Preparatory Meetings, as specified In the annotations to the agendas for the meetings, the following meetings of the subsidiary bodies were held during the intersessional period: the 27th and 28th meetings of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice; the sixth and seventh meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation, and the first meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Article 18 and related provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity related to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. Let us begin with the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, and I invite Mr. Bruno Mikasa of Gabon to take the floor. Microphone to Gabon, please. Microphone is on for Gabor, please.

Thank you, Mr. President. Allow me to briefly report on the work on the Subsidy Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice during the intersessional period. SUBSTA met twice during this period. Its 27th meeting took place from 20 to 24 October 2025 in Panama City. And its 28th meeting was held from 28 July to 1 August 2026 in Nairobi. Together, the two meetings resulting in 16 recommendations 10 from Subsah 27, nine of which contain draft decision for consideration by COP17. And six from Subsah 28, all of which are being submitted for consideration by COP17. Our work across these two meetings took place at an important stage in the implementation of the coming Montreal global biodiversity framework. A central focus was to strengthen the scientific and technical basis for the global review of collective progress in its implementation and to provide the conference of the parties with actionable recommendation to support accelerating implementation of its goals and targets. At CEBSTA 27, we made important progress in preparing for the first global review of collective progress in the implementation of the framework, including by agreeing on the annotating outline of the global report. We also advance scientific and technical work across several areas of the Convention, including biodiversity and climate change, IPBES, programmes of work under the Convention, forest biodiversity, invasive alien species, biodiversity and agriculture, and biodiversity and health. SAPSA 28 built on this progress, with the global review taking a central place in our discussions. We considered the draft global report on collective progress and its key findings, together with the monitoring framework. Our discussions focused not only on where progress has been made, but also on the gaps and the challenges that need to be addressed to accelerate implementation. The meeting reflected on the importance of a strong evidence base and robust indicators for assessing collective progress. We also advanced in providing scientific and technical advice on other matters that are important for implementation of the framework, including the work programme of EUBES, synthetic biology, sustainable wildlife management, the strategic review of and update to the programme of work on protected areas and marine and coastal biodiversity. The discussion at both meetings demonstrated the important role of SABSTA in bringing the best available scientific and technical knowledge into the work of the Convention. They also underscored a clear message: while progress is being made, the pace and scale of implementation need to increase. if we are to achieve the 2030 mission and the goals and targets of the framework. Mr. President, I now table the report of the 27th and 28th meetings of the Subsidiary Body, together with the draft decision, for consideration by the Conference of the Parties. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you very much, Mr. Mikasa. And in the absence of the Chair of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation, Ms. Clarissa Souza de Lanina of Brazil, I will ask the rapporteur, Mr. Bilal Tishak of Jordan, to deliver the report. Please, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, distinguished delegates, I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Chair of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation, Ms. Claricianina of Brazil, who is unfortunately unable to be with us in person. The Chair has asked me to convey her warm regards and her best wishes for a successful and productive 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties. The Subsidiary Body on Implementation met twice during the interim sessional period. The sixth meeting was held from 16 to 19 February 2026 in Rome. the 17th from 4 to 12 August 2026 in Nairobi. The agenda for the 16th meeting considered eight substantive items supported by 13 substantive documents for consideration. The 17th meeting considered 14 items supported by 31 official documents. Over its two meetings during the entire sessional period, the Subsidiary Body on Implementation adopted 20 recommendations, nine at its sixth meeting and 11 at its seventh meeting, most of which contain a draft decision for consideration during our meeting over the next two weeks. The draft decision prepared by SBI 6 and SBI 7 have been included in document CBD/ COP/17/2, the completion of draft decision for the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention. Allow me to highlight some of the main advances made at the 17th meeting. The Subsidiary Body prepared the ground for the first global review of collective progress in the implementation of the upcoming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which the Conference of the Parties will undertake at this meeting. The review will draw on the first progress report the state of biodiversity action based on national reports from 130 parties and national targets from 172 parties. The Subsidiary Body also advanced a draft decision on resource mobilization, the financial mechanism, the long-term strategic framework for capacity building and development. by the West Stream and the mutual mechanism on digital sequence information, including the CARI fund. Mr. President, distinguished delegates, I would draw the attention of parties that the draft decision resulting from SBI 6 and SBI 7 still contain numerous brackets and that the conference of the parties therefore has a considerable amount of work ahead of it to clean the text and reach agreement. It should also be highlighted that the pilot modalities applied at the SBI 6 and SBI 7, which aim to make more efficient use of meetings time, provide a success in this regard. It is recommended that these modalities be used again at the next meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation. On behalf of Chair, I thank all delegates for their hard work and patience over the two meetings. And I extend our sincere gratitude to the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties and to the Secretariat for their invaluable support throughout. Mr. President, the Russian delegates. I don't need to table the reports of SBI 6 and SBI 7, the commands, CBD/SBI/6/11 and CBD/SBI/7/16, respectively, together with the draft decision for consideration by the Conference of the Parties. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you very much, Mr. Tshiat. Colleagues, as you all recall, the first meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Article 8j and other provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity related to the Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities took place from 27 to 30 October 2025 in Panama City, Panama. The meeting was co-chaired by Ms. Daniela Turan of Colombia on behalf of the COP16 presidency and Ms. Kan Prit Vedder of the Sami Council, who had been elected as the Indigenous co-chair. And I now invite His Excellency, Mr. David Felipe Olarte Amaya, representing the COP16 president, to brief us on the work of the subsidiary body as its first meeting. Excellency of the floor, please microphone to Colombia.

Thank you, Mr. President. President of COP17, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, representative of Indigenous people and local communities, ladies and gentlemen, it is my honor to report on the first meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Article AJ. and other provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity related to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, held in Panama City from 27 to 30 October 2025. At its first meeting, the Subsidiary Body built upon the experience and practice of the former Working Group on Article 8j. including arrangements supporting the full and effective participation of indigenous people and local communities. Seven representatives from sociocultural regions participate as friends of the Bureau. Ms. Britt Redden of the Saami Council was selected from among them to serve as the indigenous co-chair of the subsidiary body. Colombia, in its capacity as the COP16 presidency, had the honor of chairing the meeting. The subsidiary body adopted six recommendations for consideration by the Conference of the Parties. The subsidiary body convened and in deep dialogue under the theme, strategies for mobilizing resources and facilitating access to financial resources and other means of implementation for the indigenous people and local communities, including women and youth, in support of the implementation of the coming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Recommendation 1.1. Arising from this in-depth dialogue invites the Conference of the Parties to consider mechanisms as strategies to mobilize resources and facilitate access to funding, including direct access. It also proposed that the theme of the next in-depth dialogue address task 7.1 of the Programme of Work on Article 8 on a human rights-based approach. Recommendation 1.2 concerns the modus operandi. Significant progress was made, although divergent views remain. It is my hope that this meeting will move towards the adoption of the modus operandi, which is critical for the effective operation of the subsidiary body and the fulfillment of its important mandate. Recommendation 1.3. contains proposed elements for the voluntary guidelines under task 1.1 and 1.2 of the program of work on Article 8. This concerns the development of guidelines to strengthen legal and policy frameworks for the implementation of targets 2 and 3 of the framework, including in relation to Indigenous and traditional territories, as well as the inclusion and consideration of traditional land and resources used in spatial planning and environmental impact assessment. Relevant to targets 1 and 14, the Conference of the Parties We'll have the opportunity to continue consideration of the outstanding issues with a view to completing this important work. Recommendation 1.4, propose a step-by-step process for reviewing and updating the voluntary glossary of key terms and concept within the context of the Article 8A and relate provisions for consideration by the Conference of the Parties. Recommendation 1.5, advice on traditional knowledge for the global report on collective progress in implementation, the framework. Finally, the subsidiary body considered recommendation from the 23rd and 24th session of the permanent forum on indigenous issues and agreed on recommendation 16. Distinguished delegates, overall, The first meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Article 8 achieved substantial progress, while some areas of divergence remain for further discussion during this meeting. I extend my appreciation to all parties, representatives of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, observers, Friends of Bureau, Co-Chairs of the Contact Group, the government and the people of Panama, and the Secretariat for the constructive engagement and support. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Olavde, and thanks also to your co-chair, Ms. Ratter. Thank you again to all the chairs and co-chairs for these reports, which will inform the deliberations under menu of agenda items. And I invite the three meetings to take note of the report of the intersessional meetings and to consider their recommendations on the relevant agenda items in the working groups as per the agenda and organization of work. As I see no objections, it is so agreed. Thank you, and I now adjourn the joint plenary. We now resume the meeting of COP 12 of the Cartagena Protocol. And we now turn to item 5, report of the Compliance Committee, and I would like to invite Ms. Yan Liu, Chair of the Compliance Committee under the Cartagena Protocol, to provide a report on this item. Ms. Liu, you have the floor, please give the microphone to China.

Mr. President, distinguished delegates, colleagues, on behalf of the Compliance Committee under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, it is an honor to introduce the report and recommendations of the Compliance Committee under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and the President, a brief overview of the Committee's work undertaken since the 11th meetings of the Conference of the Parties serving at the meeting of the parties to the Cartagena Protocol. During the intercessional period, the committee held its 20th meeting in May 2025 and its 21st meeting in June 2026. At these meetings, the committee continued its work of supporting parties in complying with their obligations under the protocol. The committee considered the general issues of compliance and individual cases of noncompliance, reviewing compliance with several obligations under the protocol. The committee also provided a contribution to the fifth assessment and review of the effectiveness of the protocol and the midterm evaluation of the implementation plan and the capacity building action plan for the Cartagena Protocol. I would like to highlight a few aspects of this work. Mr. President, in relation to compliance with the reporting obligation, the Committee noted with appreciation of the remarkable rate of submission of fifth national reports by the reporting deadline, with 135 reports received by the time of the Committee's 21st meeting, corresponding to 78% of the parties. The Committee welcomed the efforts by the Secretariat, the United Nations Environment Programme and the Global Environment Facility to support Parties technically and financially with the preparation and publication of their national reports on the Biosafety Clearing-House. The Committee also continued to follow up with the three Parties that were cautioned by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol at its 11th meeting for not submitting their national reports over multiple reporting cycles. Two of these Parties, Belize and Libya, have since submitted their fourth and fifth national reports. I would like to express the Committee's appreciation to those parties for their efforts and also for the support that JEF offered to the cautions parties to enable them to prepare their fifth and fourth national reports. A recommendation concerning the one remaining cautioned Party that has not yet submitted its national report, Papua New Guinea, is submitted for consideration by the meeting of the Parties under agenda item 5. Mr. President, the Committee continued to focus its efforts on reviewing of compliance with the obligations to make measures to implement the Protocol. The Committee continues to follow up with Parties that have not taken any measures or that have taken only draft or temporary measures for the implementation of the Protocol. Seven of them submitted a compliance action plan, bringing the total number of compliance action plans under the Committee's active consideration to 18. The committee engaged with several of these parties through informal online exchange during its 21st meeting. Some parties with compliance action plans are in the final stages of developing biosafety legislation with the support of UNEP, FAO, and the Japan Biodiversity Fund, and I commend these parties for their efforts in this regard. Mr. President, in the committee considered compliance with several other obligations, including the obligation to make information available to the Biosafety Clearing House and the obligation to designate competent national authorities, national focal points, and points of contact on the Article 17. Progress in these areas is evident, although some gaps remain, and the committee's follow-up on those issues. In consideration of the various compliance issues, the Committee agreed on follow-up steps and measures, as well as recommendations for consideration by the Meetings of the Parties at its present meeting. The recommendations by the Committee are presented in the annex of the report of the 20th and 21st meetings, document CBD/CP/MOP/12/3. I suggest that the recommendations be referred to consideration under the agenda item to which they most closely relate. Mr. President, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many parties I have communicated with and commend them for their efforts to improve compliance. The engagement of parties is vital to the Committee being able to undertake its supportive role. I would also like to express my gratitude to the Committee members for the trust they have placed in me and in the Vice Chair of the Committee, Mr. Casper Linnaestad. I will conclude by recalling that the MOP is to elect new members to the Committee by the present meeting. As you have heard, the Committee plays an important role in promoting compliance with the Protocol. The work of the committee continues to grow and advance and is producing results. I trust that the new members will continue their important mandate. Thank you very much, Mr. President.

Thank you, Ms. Liu. Thank you for your report. Delegates are reminded that substantive matters arising from the report of the Compliance Committee will be referred to the relevant agenda items in Working Group 2 for consideration. More specifically, the recommendations in section one of the annex will be considered under agenda item five, report of the compliance of committee. The recommendations in section two of the annex will be considered under agenda item 10, operation and activities of the Biosafety Clearing House. The recommendations in section three of the annex will be considered under agenda item 7, monitoring and reporting and the recommendations in section 4 of the annex will be considered under agenda item 9, matters related to the financial mechanism and resources. Further to the notification issued by the Secretariat on 8 September 2026, five seats on the Committee, under one per region, are up for election at the meeting for a four-year term from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2030. On Friday, 23 October, we will elect the five members of the Compliance Committee accordingly. I therefore remind each region to identify their respective nominees and submit the names and CVs to the And I recall that members of the Compliance Committee serve in their personal capacity, are to have recognized competence in the field of biosafety or other relevant fields, including legal or technical expertise. Ladies and gentlemen, I now adjourn the meeting of MOP 12. And a quick announcement, we will resume the meeting of MOP 6 of Nagoya Protocol at 3 p.m. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, before we resume at 3 p.m., the joint plenary meeting of COP 17, COP MOP 12 and COP MOP 6 is adjourned. Thank you.