# UN biodiversity conference opens formal sessions in Armenia

https://mins.news/en/item/107185

- CGTN, 2026-10-20 02:56 UTC
- World
- Original: https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-10-20/UN-biodiversity-conference-begins-formal-sessions-in-Armenia-1Ro3iUxLEjK/p.html?UTM_Source=cgtn&UTM_Medium=rss&UTM_Campaign=China

> The opening plenary of COP17, the UN Convention on Biological Diversity’s 17th meeting, took place Monday in Yerevan. Executive Secretary Astrid Schomaker said progress on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework remains too slow and limited to meet its targets. Armenia’s Environment Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan was elected conference president for two years. The meeting runs through October 30.

## Related coverage

- [World faces nature reality check at UN biodiversity conference](https://mins.news/en/item/105702) — Reuters, 2026-10-19
- [COP17 opens in Armenia for global biodiversity progress review](https://mins.news/en/item/107212) — CGTN, 2026-10-19