Yerevan reflections: Keeping global nature ambitions in sight

Over the past two weeks, I’ve been immersed in the world of Nature COP (COP17), where thousands of people gathered in Yerevan to take a temperature check on progress to save our natural world and all that depends on it. 

Having represented the RSPB at several COPs, I’ve become familiar with the rhythm of early morning shuttles, late night negotiations, endless trawling through draft decision text, and huddles with hasty coffees to brainstorm tactics.  

But this one felt different.  

While negotiations did indeed extend late into the night, and at times became frustratingly mired in politics, there was a parallel, palpable feeling of progress outside of the negotiations halls. I found myself being inspired day after day by the passion, tenacity, and hope carried by delegates through countless events showcasing action taking place on the ground, and sharing bright ideas for innovation and collaboration. 

So the question is, has that enthusiasm been enough to turn the dial for nature? And was this COP able to rise above geopolitical challenges?  

Below are some of the key themes where I feel that this COP has taken steps forward, and which give me hope that we can still keep our ambitions for nature in sight. 

An essential role of COPs is to provide the space for global leaders to cooperate across borders to tackle shared challenges. Thanks to brilliant leadership from the Armenian presidency, this COP successfully elevated coalitions of the willing to drive forward action on some of the most important issues. 

As a great example, the COP opened with an exciting political signal for species. We’ve long been encouraging our decision-makers to recognise species as the critical building block of biodiversity. And with the launch of the Coalition of Action to Recover Endangered Species (CARES), this recognition finally seems to be taking flight. If we really are to halt and reverse the loss of biodiversity – which we collectively set as the 2030 mission of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework – conservation promises must drive practical species recovery, and we hope this new coalition will open the doors needed to fast-track targeted action for our most endangered species.  

We also saw new regional political powerhouses emerging; we were excited to be in the room when eight countries across West Africa came together to launch the Guinean Forest Coalition, which aims to position this crucial biome as the third lung of the world, alongside the Amazon and the Congo Basin. The RSPB has been honoured to work in this region with partners for over three decades and have seen firsthand just how transformative coordinated action to conserve these precious forests can be for local communities, nature, and the climate. 

The UK also played an important role as a leader and bridge builder across many agenda items this COP. Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, new in her role as Nature Minister, proudly noted in a meeting with UK civil society: “When we speak, people listen”. 

But despite these exciting sparks, as I heard minister after minister read statements in the COP’s ‘high-level segment’, I couldn’t help but feel frustrated. While they reaffirmed commitment to our shared goals for nature, the new State of Biodiversity Action report shows there is a chasm remaining between our global ambitions and delivery on the ground at scale. So rather than warm words from our leaders, we need them to focus on transforming the systems that are hindering delivery, and get the finance flowing to enable action. 

Finance has been a hot topic at COP. After all, closing the annual biodiversity finance gap of USD 700 billion per year is no small feat, and we’re still way off track.  

A major push at COP has been on reforming harmful subsidies, i.e. instead of using public money to finance the destruction of nature, investing it in sustainable practices instead. A big moment was the launch of the new high level ‘Friends of Target 18’ coalition, bringing countries together to champion action on this KMGBF target, which aims to reduce subsidies harmful to biodiversity by at least USD 500bn a year by 2030, and scale up positive incentives. This topic has succeeded in attracting major attention and brings hope that this thorny issue may finally start moving at the scale required. 

This COP has also seen a real swell of interest from philanthropists and private investors, and the talk of the town has been on ‘blended finance’. This is where a mix of public, philanthropic and/or concessional capital is strategically used to mobilise additional private sector investment. 

Highlights include the launch of the landmark Species Recovery Alliance, representing the largest coordinated philanthropic effort for species recovery of our time, and the USD 300 million boost to the Legacy Landscapes Fund, backed by the German government, the Rob Walton Foundation and the Wyss Foundation. This latter announcement is particularly exciting, not simply because of its scale, but because it reinforces the model of long-term, predictable financing for conservation – a shift our sector has long called for. It aims to move beyond the short funding cycles that too often limit impact, and place Indigenous Peoples and local communities at the centre of decision-making.  

That principle mirrors the RSPB’s own experience through programmes such as the Greater Gola Landscape Programme, where lasting conservation outcomes depend on sustained partnership and local leadership. If this momentum emerging from COP17 can be sustained, it may represent a pivotal shift towards conservation finance that is not only larger in scale, but smarter, fairer and more effective in securing a future for people, climate and nature.   

COPs are a fundamental part of the puzzle of action for nature – they set the direction and ambition, build momentum, and foster international collaboration. But crucially, implementation is largely a national and local responsibility, and that puzzle piece has yet to fully slot into place. 

This COP has helped to restore my hope that we can complete the puzzle after all. From community action to support habitats for migratory waterbirds in Senegal, to innovative ways of using data to support spatial planning in Iceland, I saw examples of national action where countries are rising to the challenge. 

In particular, as part of an event hosted by the RSPB and the Wildlife Trusts, it was brilliant to have Wales and Scotland taking centre stage, showcasing how they have been taking steps to embed nature targets into law. This is something the RSPB has long been advocating for to close the accountability gap, embed nature beyond short term political cycles, and help to mainstream action across governments and sectoral policies. A lot of work remains to ensure these domestic frameworks drive urgent, effective action, and the RSPB will continue working across global, national and local scales to make sure they do just that. 

After a rollercoaster two weeks, a marathon closing plenary, and an emotional speech from the COP President, the conference finally drew to a close. In the negotiations, at times ambition and urgency were undermined by challenging geopolitics, but the final agreed Yerevan Pathway helps us to not only recognise that we’re off track, but points the way to accelerate action through to 2030 and beyond.  

This COP has mobilised political leadership, and given important signals on financing, and elevated stories of inspiring action on the ground. Most importantly, it has sent a message of hope and determination. 

On the final day of COP, the sound of singing wafted into the negotiation rooms. Stepping outside brought me face-to-face with young people from across the globe calling as one: 

When the last tree has fallen, and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money. 

It’s nature that feeds us, both body and soul, and we forget that at our peril. This COP reminds us that our future depends on a thriving natural world. My hope is for the song of the young people to carry from the corridors of COP to the corridors of power across the world, so that together we can build a brighter future.