A Maldivian delegation is attending the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) in Yerevan, Armenia, which runs from 19 to 31 October 2026.
Dr Ilham Atho Mohamed, Director of Environmental Conservation at the Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy, leads the team. Other members include Policy Communications Strategist Midhath Abdul Rasheed, Principal International Relations Officer Fathimath Usra, Protected Areas Management Analyst Aishath Amal and Conservation Analyst Hawwa Nabaha.
The ministry said the summit offers a key platform for climate-vulnerable island states to advocate for stronger global biodiversity policies. Delegates will work to incorporate Maldivian perspectives into the decisions adopted by the conference and to advance the country’s core goals on environmental conservation and biodiversity protection.
COP17 brings together parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity to review progress, negotiate further commitments and address implementation gaps. For small island developing states such as the Maldives, the talks are an opportunity to highlight the links between biodiversity loss, climate change and the survival of coral-reef ecosystems.
The ministry has described the meeting as essential for ensuring that the needs of low-lying island nations are reflected in international biodiversity frameworks.
