UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Thursday held a press conference in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia.

He is expected to attend Friday’s Leaders' Summit on Biodiversity to be held in Yerevan ahead of the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, scheduled for October 19-30.

The State of Biodiversity Action report was officially launched during the press conference. This is the first global report to assess the overall progress made in implementing the historic Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).

Adopted in 2022, this document has committed countries to halting and restoring biodiversity loss, with 23 targets to be achieved by 2030. This interim report analyses progress towards achieving these targets, the shortcomings identified, and the measures needed to make progress.

The report summarizes how countries are translating the provisions of the global agenda into practical national action.

The report’s findings will provide a solid evidence base for the 196 participating countries at COP17, which will conduct a comprehensive assessment of their progress towards the agenda for the first time. The results of this review will be at the basis of decisions and new initiatives that will activate further steps, including the proposed Yerevan Pathway, which is currently under negotiation.

The press conference aims to link the results of this global review to the COP17 goals and the necessary steps to reverse the drivers of biodiversity loss.

Armenia has invited leaders of various countries to attend Friday’s Leaders' Summit on Biodiversity ahead of COP17.

The event will serve as a political landmark for COP17, setting the strategic direction, increasing focus, and mobilizing coordinated global action to sustain life on Earth.

COP17 will be held in conjunction with the meetings of the Cartagena and Nagoya Protocols.