11/11/2026
Hon’ble Minister, Environment Forest Climate Change and Indian team @ COP-17
At the seventeenth COP of the Convention on Biological Diversity in Yerevan, Armenia,19–30 October 2026, India reaffirmed its commitment to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework emphasizing equitable finance, technology transfer, and community participation. At the High-Level Segment, Hon’ble Minister delivered the national statement highlighting local conservation and benefit-sharing. Bilateral meetings were with C*D Executive Secretary, Germany, Czech Republic, Armenia, WWF, South Africa, BRICS and India-Malaysia coordination talks. India-led side events provided complementary platforms to communicate India’s priorities and initiatives to strengthen international cooperation. Side events included Wetlands for Biodiversity-Climate and People, Managing Big Cat Landscapes for People and Nature hosted, and where India was invited by other countries to address or as panelist, and release of India’s OECM Guidelines 2026, Fifth National Report-Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, C*D Handbook-Reference Guide and Indian Perspective and, ABS Success Stories. The Indian team actively provided inputs to the key agenda items of the Convention and its two protocols. India’s overall strategy prioritized national regulatory sovereignty, predictable public financing, and balanced scientific access.
