Nations adopt Yerevan Pathway to accelerate biodiversity action

Global biodiversity targets remain off track

Only four years remain to meet the 2030 biodiversity targets set under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. The first global review of the framework, which was agreed upon in Montreal in 2022, found that collective efforts are insufficient to meet these goals.

Nearly 90% of parties have established national targets, but fewer than half of the assessed targets remain on track.

COP17 established an ad-hoc technical expert group to help countries prepare national reports and recognize new optional indicators for progress.

Priorities for the Yerevan Pathway

The roadmap also strengthens monitoring, reporting, and review mechanisms to guide national efforts until 2030. Progress will be assessed through measurable improvements for people and nature, alongside policy changes and resource delivery.

Debates over biodiversity financing and donor bases

European nations and Nordic environment ministers urged emerging economies to contribute to biodiversity financing. Panama environment minister Juan Carlos Navarro argued that wealthy oil-producing nations should contribute more to conservation. Developing countries opposed making contributions a condition for receiving greater financial support, while emerging economies including China, India, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar were invited to join the donor base.

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework aims to mobilize at least $200 billion annually by 2030, with international finance for developing countries targeted at $20 billion annually by 2025. Developed countries failed to meet that $20 billion commitment. Estimates place total global finance at $74.9-92.4 billion annually for 2023-2025. A 27% reduction in environmental funding for 2026-2030 was noted during negotiations.

The final compromise creates a voluntary process for developing countries to join the donor list without imposing new legal obligations. The Nordic Pavilion hosted side events that noted for every dollar spent on restoration, $30 is spent on activities that harm biodiversity.

Strengthening Indigenous participation through Sevan Guidelines

COP17 adopted the Sevan Guidelines to provide operational rules for this body.

Nordic governments advocated for Indigenous voices to be heard and their organizational methods respected.

Slow progress on digital sequence information and the Cali Fund

Digital sequence information, including DNA and RNA data, remains a focus for benefit-sharing in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and agriculture. Parties established the Cali Fund at COP16 to ensure companies benefiting from this data contribute to benefit-sharing. The fund has raised only approximately $10,000, and no large company from major sectors has contributed.

Negotiators postponed decisions on which companies should pay and how funds will be distributed until COP18.

Bangladesh submits national biodiversity strategy

The plan includes 23 national biodiversity targets and 107 specific actions.

Implementation of these actions requires an estimated $3.3 billion. Khanom clarified that this figure represents an implementation requirement rather than secured international funding or confirmed government expenditure.

The strategy currently awaits cabinet approval.

Funding commitments and future outlook

Governments, financial institutions, and conservation organizations announced nearly $2 billion in biodiversity funding commitments at COP17.

The Asian Development Bank launched a biodiversity bond and an investment incubator. The conference presidency also led an effort to reform harmful subsidies.

Despite these pledges, financing to deliver the agreed biodiversity actions remains elusive.

Schomaker noted that delegates reached 50 decisions at the conference, though she stressed that global targets remain off track.

UN Environment Programme executive director Inger Andersen praised the environmental multilateralism displayed in Yerevan.

The two-week conference concluded in Armenia on Saturday, 31 October 2026. The next biodiversity conference, COP18, will take place in Ecuador in 2028.