From October 19 to 30, Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, will host the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CDB), an international agreement signed during the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. This treaty has three main goals: preserving biodiversity, ensuring the sustainable use of its components, and guaranteeing a fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources. This COP17 will be the first major review of progress since the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted in 2022. The framework includes 23 specific targets to be achieved by 2030, including the protection or conservation of at least 30 percent of the planet's lands and oceans. The 196 countries that are part of the CDB are invited to Yerevan, including all member states of the European Union and the EU itself. However, the United States, which have signed the convention, have not ratified it and are thus not part of it. The CDB has set a goal of mobilizing at least 200 billion dollars annually for biodiversity protection by 2030, with at least 30 billion dollars of that going to developing countries each year. However, a recent assessment by the CDB indicates that the world is not on track to meet these targets. In August, Astrid Schomaker, the executive secretary of the CDB, noted that while progress is being made, the implementation of key actions is not happening at the necessary speed or scale. Delays are particularly evident in areas such as funding mobilization, reducing harmful subsidies that negatively affect biodiversity, and involving indigenous peoples and local communities in decision-making processes. The COP17 will also address the Cali Fund, a mechanism decided during the COP16 in Colombia and officially launched in February 2025. The Cali Fund aims to ensure a fairer sharing of benefits from the commercial use of genetic data, known as digital sequencing of genetic resources (DSI). These data are used in various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, agriculture, and biotechnology. Large companies that profit from such data are expected to contribute to the fund, with at least half of its resources going to indigenous peoples and local communities. However, there are still disagreements among countries about how to implement this mechanism and secure the necessary funding to meet the 2030 targets. With less than four years until the 2030 deadline, the COP17 will need to address the gap between the commitments made in Montreal and their actual implementation. The discussions in Yerevan will focus not only on funding but also on ensuring that the goals set out in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework are translated into real-world actions. Astrid Schomaker has emphasized that the negotiations will require "all the endurance and determination" of the participating countries to achieve meaningful progress.