Yerevan: The Environmental Protection First Coalition has made an appeal to the participants of the Leaders' Summit under the motto 'Leaders for Nature' and COP17, which will be held in Armenia.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the appeal was read by Amin Mammadov, Co-Founder of the Coalition. The Coalition consists of Azerbaijani civil society activists who are monitoring the environmental impacts of Armenia's mining industry on the region's environment and transboundary rivers. The appeal calls on the Presidency of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) and participants of the Leaders' Summit to address these concerns during the upcoming meetings in Iravan in October 2026.
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework is highlighted as a crucial international instrument, with COP17 serving as a key milestone for assessing its implementation. The Coalition emphasizes that the biodiversity conservation efforts must include concrete actions, especially considering the ecological risks posed by Armenia's mining activities, which reportedly do not adhere to international environmental standards.
Over the past three years, the Coalition has issued multiple public appeals to the Armenian government, highlighting the ecological risks to biodiversity, water resources, and ecosystems across the South Caucasus region. The Coalition has also expressed solidarity with Armenian environmental organizations in search of solutions.
Significant concern is raised about the transboundary rivers originating in Armenia and flowing into Azerbaijan. Observations indicate harmful substance concentrations in these rivers, attributed to upstream mining activities. The Coalition advocates for joint monitoring missions in Armenia, involving international experts to ensure transparency and comprehensive environmental assessments.
Azerbaijan, a Party to the UNECE Water Convention, underscores the importance of joint monitoring of transboundary waters, information exchange, early warning mechanisms, and public access to environmental information. Armenia, as an upstream country, has yet to join this Convention, despite the environmental implications for biodiversity in the Kur-Araz rivers' basins and the Caspian Sea.
The Espoo Convention, which Armenia is a Party to, is another critical agreement concerning environmental impact assessments in transboundary contexts. Armenia is obliged to inform neighboring countries about economic activities near shared borders and submit EIA reports. The Coalition points out that Armenia committed to providing transboundary EIA reports for the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant's restoration but has not demonstrated public accountability regarding environmental impacts.
The peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia, following the Washington Summit, presents opportunities for closer cooperation between civil society institutions. The Coalition welcomes this agenda, believing that environmental justice can significantly contribute to sustainable peace in the South Caucasus.
The Coalition's appeal urges the COP17 Presidency and Leaders' Summit participants to encourage Armenia to make concrete decisions regarding transboundary river protection, proper mining management, transparent monitoring mechanisms, and public access to environmental information.