A biodiversity leaders' summit opened in Yerevan with the participation of Kazakhstan's President Qasym-Jomart Toqaev. Alongside several heads of state, he attended a ceremony at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex, where guests were presented with an interactive show about nature conservation, infohub.kz reports.
According to a statement from the Akorda, the interactive show was intended to highlight "the global importance of preserving biodiversity and caring for the planet's natural heritage."
According to the website of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, the summit is being held under the slogan "Leaders for Nature." It brings together heads of state and government, international organizations, scientists and representatives of indigenous peoples. The goal of the meeting is to secure political support for accelerating nature conservation efforts. The summit's main sessions are scheduled for October 16.
COP17 itself will be held in Yerevan from October 19 to 30. For the first time, countries will jointly assess how the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted in 2022, is being implemented. It contains 23 targets for 2030.
The COP17 agenda includes financing for conservation measures, the preservation of forests and protected areas, and the impact of climate change and agriculture on nature. Participants will also consider the protection of marine and coastal ecosystems, the sustainable use of wild animals and plants, and efforts to combat the spread of invasive species. Particular attention will be paid to the participation of indigenous peoples and local communities in nature conservation.
Toqaev had earlier arrived in Yerevan at the invitation of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
The day before, the Kazakh president took part in the VII Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Baku.