Hambardzum Matevosyan, Minister of Environment of the RA, received Alessandro Ferranti, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Italy to Armenia.
During the meeting, the parties discussed the bilateral agenda, emphasizing the importance of deepening cooperation in the fields of environmental protection and sustainable development.
Reference was made to the Memorandum of Understanding on Sustainable Development Cooperation, signed in 2021, which provides a framework for the implementation of joint initiatives, including enhancing climate resilience, risk assessment and disaster risk management, biodiversity conservation, sustainable management of forests and water resources, effective waste management, and the development of a circular economy.
The parties also discussed the participation of the Armenian delegation, led by the Minister, in the resumed session of the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16), held in Rome in 2025. During the session, important agreements were reached on biodiversity financing mechanisms and on the adoption of a complete set of indicators to measure progress in implementing the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Preparations for COP17 were also addressed. In this context, the Minister underscored the importance of the high-level events titled “Taking Action for Nature” and “Agrifood Systems Taking Action for Nature,” planned within the framework of the sixth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI-6), to be held in Rome on 16–19 February.
The meeting also touched upon several promising areas of cooperation, highlighting opportunities to exchange experience with Italy and expand joint initiatives.