Countries remain divided over biodiversity funding, harmful subsidies and global conservation targets as the COP17 summit enters its final day in Yerevan, Armenia.

YEREVAN, ARMENIA — WEB DESK : International negotiations at the United Nations biodiversity summit in Armenia are facing major disagreements as participating countries struggle to reach an agreement on protecting global ecosystems and reversing biodiversity loss.

The 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) is scheduled to conclude on October 30 in Yerevan, following nearly two weeks of negotiations involving representatives from countries around the world.

Despite extended discussions, governments remain divided over several key issues, including conservation funding, environmentally harmful subsidies and financial contributions from businesses that benefit from genetic resources.

Conservation Funding Remains Major Obstacle

One of the biggest challenges involves securing sufficient financial resources to protect forests, oceans and other ecosystems, particularly in developing countries.

The European Union has pushed for wealthier emerging economies, including China, to contribute more towards international biodiversity financing. However, disagreements over responsibility for funding have slowed progress.

Negotiations over the Cali Fund have also faced difficulties. The mechanism, launched in 2025, aims to collect financial contributions from companies benefiting from digital genetic information derived from plants, animals and other organisms.

The fund was designed to raise approximately $1 billion annually for conservation efforts in developing countries. However, it has attracted only around $10,000 so far.

Countries Falling Behind on Global Nature Targets

The summit is also reviewing progress under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted in 2022.

Nearly 200 countries agreed to work towards 23 global targets for 2030, including protecting 30 per cent of the world’s land and oceans, restoring damaged ecosystems, reducing pollution and addressing invasive species.

However, international assessments indicate that progress remains insufficient to achieve most of these commitments by the deadline.

The global review being negotiated in Yerevan is intended to identify implementation gaps and establish recommendations for accelerating action.

Environmental organisations have urged governments to reach meaningful agreements rather than leave major conservation commitments unresolved.

The outcome of COP17 will be important in determining how countries address biodiversity loss, mobilise financial resources and strengthen environmental protection efforts before the 2030 targets.