Nature – our life support system – is in crisis around the world. Animal and plant species, fungi and microorganism species, and the habitats they create and depend on, are declining at an unprecedented rate in human history. As a result, the natural functions and processes that people depend on for the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, the energy we need, the materials we use, the medicines we rely on and a climate we can survive in are failing rapidly.
There is cause for hope. We have a good understanding of what’s happening to natural systems – and new evidence is emerging all the time. The impacts of unsustainable land and sea use, climate breakdown, exploitation and pollution – have significant consequences for life on Earth. We have the knowledge, tools, networks and ambition to take collective action to recover nature. But we must act now. Future generations rely on it.
From 19 to 30 October 2026, JNCC’s experts will participate in the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17) in Yerevan, Armenia. With 'Taking Action for Nature' as its central theme, the focus of COP17 will be to undertake the first global review of collective progress in implementing the 23 targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) adopted in 2022. COP17 marks the halfway point between KMGBF adoption and the 2030 targets.
Contents
- What is CBD COP17?
- JNCC's role at COP17
-
JNCC’s COP17 calendar
- Event: UK Business and Biodiversity Forum (UKBBF) Online webinar 1 for UKBBF members – Reflections from opening and leaders’ summit
- Event: From Principles to Practice: Scaling inclusive nature action through the Global Biodiversity Framework
- Event: Biodiversity Conservation Contributing to Building a Beautiful China
- Event: Side event (7064): Enhancing the national reporting process under the Convention: reflections and forward-looking
- Event: Meaningful youth participation in nature decision-making – delivering on T22
- Event: Side event (7849): Scaling Biodiversity Incentives and Finance: Tracking Progress and Accelerating Action
- Event: UK Business and Biodiversity Forum (UKBBF) Online webinar 2 for UKBBF members – Update on the week’s events
- Event: Side event (7573): Strengthening Small Islands biodiversity decision-making: Lessons from the UK Overseas Territories on invasive species, OECMs and conservation action
- Event: Invasive Alien Species Thematic Half Day
- Event: Side event (7428): Business Action for Nature: Turning Science and Policy into Practice
- Event: Side event (7531): From Global Goals to National Law: UK Approaches to Delivering Biodiversity Targets
- Event: Global Biodiversity Agency Network meeting
- Event: UK Business and Biodiversity Forum (UKBBF) Online webinar 2 for UKBBF members – Reflections from the Business & Biodiversity Forum & Finance day
- Event: UK Business and Biodiversity Forum (UKBBF) Online webinar 2 for UKBBF members – Reflections from the High Level Segment and key negotiations
- Why is COP17 important?
- The post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework
- The 7th National Report
What is CBD COP17?
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is an international meeting referred to as the 'UN Biodiversity Conference' or the ‘Nature COP’. The Conference of the Parties (COP) is a gathering of the supreme decision-making body of an international treaty or convention. Most people know about the Climate Change COP which refers to the annual summit held by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change but there are many other conventions which hold similar events. CBD COP17 is the 17th such gathering of the CBD.
JNCC's role at COP17
JNCC is the UK’s statutory nature advisor. We provide technical and scientific support to the UK Government on issues relating to the UK’s implementation of the CBD (as well as 20 other multi-lateral environmental agreements and organisations. As part of this, our experts will be attending COP17 as part of the UK delegation, helping the UK and other Parties to secure positive outcomes to support international nature recovery.
JNCC’s COP17 calendar
Event: UK Business and Biodiversity Forum (UKBBF) Online webinar 1 for UKBBF members – Reflections from opening and leaders’ summit
JNCC role: Dr Gemma Harper speaking
Date and time: Monday 19 October 13:30 to 14:00 (GMT+4) (10:30 to 11:00 BST)
Host organisation: UKBBF
Location: Online
Event: From Principles to Practice: Scaling inclusive nature action through the Global Biodiversity Framework
JNCC role: Dr Gemma Harper keynote speaker and panel discussion
Date and time: Tuesday 20 October 13:00 to 14:00 (GMT+4) (10:00 to 11:00 BST)
Host organisation: Dutch Government
Location: Netherlands Pavilion
Event: Biodiversity Conservation Contributing to Building a Beautiful China
JNCC role: Dr Gemma Harper presenting
Date and time: Wednesday 21 October 10:00 to 13:00 (GMT+4) (07:00 to 10:00 BST)
Host organisation: Chinese Academy of Environmental Planning and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment
Location: China Pavillion
Event: Side event (7064): Enhancing the national reporting process under the Convention: reflections and forward-looking
JNCC role: Leah Farquharson presenting
Date and time: Wednesday 21 October 18:15 to 17:45 (GMT+4) (15:15 to 16:45 BST)
Host organisation: Convention on Biological Diversity, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Environment Programme and Global Environment Facility
Location: Lori Meeting room 4 – Block 2, 3rd Floor
Further information: https://www.cbd.int/side-events/7064
Event: Meaningful youth participation in nature decision-making – delivering on T22
JNCC role: Dr Gemma Harper panel discussion
Date and time: Friday 23 October 12:30 to 13:15 (GMT+4) (09:30 to 10:15 BST)
Host organisation: Global Youth Biodiversity Network UK
Location: Youth Pavilion – Blue Zone
Further information:
Event: Side event (7849): Scaling Biodiversity Incentives and Finance: Tracking Progress and Accelerating Action
JNCC role: Dr David Cooper panel discussion
Date and time: Friday 23 October 13:15 to 14:00 (GMT+4) (10:15 to 11:00 BST)
Host organisation: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, with Armenian, French, Colombian and UK Government representatives
Location: Lori, Meeting Room 4 – Block 2, 3rd Floor
Further information: https://www.cbd.int/side-events/7849
Event: UK Business and Biodiversity Forum (UKBBF) Online webinar 2 for UKBBF members – Update on the week’s events
JNCC role: JNCC presenting
Date and time: Friday 23 October 13:30 to 14:30 (GMT+4) (10:30 to 11:30 BST)
Host organisation: UKBBF
Location: Online
Event: Side event (7573): Strengthening Small Islands biodiversity decision-making: Lessons from the UK Overseas Territories on invasive species, OECMs and conservation action
JNCC role: Dr Gemma Harper panel discussion
Date and time: Friday 23 October 15:00 to 16:30 (GMT+4) (12:00 to 13:30 BST)
Host organisation: UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Location: Vayk – Side-event Room 3
Further information: https://www.cbd.int/side-events/7573
Event: Invasive Alien Species Thematic Half Day
JNCC role: JNCC speaking
Date and time: 24 October 9:00 to 13:00 (GMT+4) (06:00 to 10:00 BST)
Host organisation: Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle
Location: GBF Pavilion, Blue Zone
Event: Side event (7428): Business Action for Nature: Turning Science and Policy into Practice
JNCC role: Dr Gemma Harper speaking
Date and time: Monday 26 October 16:30 to 18:00 (GMT+4) (13:30 to 15:00 BST)
Host organisation: UK Business and Biodiversity Forum, Defra, UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, JNCC, RSPB, Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
Location: Spitak – Side-event Room 2
Further information: https://www.cbd.int/side-events/7428
Event: Side event (7531): From Global Goals to National Law: UK Approaches to Delivering Biodiversity Targets
JNCC role: Dr Gemma Harper speaking
Date and time: Tuesday 27 October 11:30 to 13:00 (GMT+4) (08:30 to 10:00 BST)
Host organisation: RSPB and the UK Government
Location: Talin – Side-event Room 1
Further information: https://www.cbd.int/side-events/7531
Event: Global Biodiversity Agency Network meeting
JNCC role: JNCC presenting
Date and time: Tuesday 27 October 13:00 to 14:30 (GMT+4) (10:00 to 11:30 BST)
Host organisation: French Office for Biodiversity
Location: GEF Pavilion, Yerevan
Event: UK Business and Biodiversity Forum (UKBBF) Online webinar 2 for UKBBF members – Reflections from the Business & Biodiversity Forum & Finance day
JNCC role: JNCC speaking
Date and time: Tuesday 27 October 14:30 to 15:30 (GMT+4) (11:30 to 12:30 BST)
Host organisation: UKBBF
Location: Online
Event: UK Business and Biodiversity Forum (UKBBF) Online webinar 2 for UKBBF members – Reflections from the High Level Segment and key negotiations
JNCC role: JNCC speaking
Date and time: Thursday 29 October 14:30 to 15:30 (GMT+4) (11:30 to 12:30 BST)
Host organisation: UKBBF
Location: Online
Why is COP17 important?
At COP15, the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework – the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) set out an ambitious plan to transform society’s relationship with biodiversity. National strategies and plans have been created (including the UK’s own submission – the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan), and earlier this year, Governments reported their progress against the 23 national biodiversity targets set out within the KMGBF.
The post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) is a high-level document that was agreed and adopted by Parties to CBD at COP15, which aims to halt and reverse biodiversity decline globally. The framework consists of four goals and 23 targets.
The 7th National Report
In March 2026, the UK revealed its first assessment of progress towards national biodiversity targets through publication of its 7th National Report (7NR) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
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