Yerevan: The 'Environmental Protection First' Coalition has addressed an appeal to the participants of the Leaders' Summit and COP17, which will be held in Armenia under the slogan 'Leaders for Nature,' APA reports.
According to Azeri-Press News agency, the coalition comprises Azerbaijani civil society activists who are actively monitoring the environmental impacts of Armenia's mining industry on the region's environment and transboundary rivers. They have appealed to the Presidency of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) and the Leaders' Summit participants scheduled in Yerevan in October 2026. The coalition emphasizes the significance of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which is crucial for identifying progress toward biodiversity targets and implementing the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA).
The coalition expressed concerns that Armenia's mining activities, conducted without adherence to international environmental standards, pose ecological risks to biodiversity, the environment, water resources, and ecosystems in the South Caucasus region. Over the past three years, the coalition has repeatedly appealed to the Armenian government regarding these issues and has shown solidarity with environmental organizations in Armenia seeking solutions.
Several transboundary rivers originating in Armenia flow into Azerbaijan, and monitoring has indicated that mining activities near these rivers have resulted in harmful substance concentrations exceeding permissible standards. The coalition advocates for joint monitoring missions within Armenia, involving international experts, to ensure a transparent and comprehensive assessment of the environmental situation. They call for the public availability of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) documentation of Armenia's mining enterprises.
As a Party to the UNECE Water Convention, Azerbaijan emphasizes the importance of joint monitoring of transboundary waters, information exchange, and public access to environmental information. Despite the environmental implications for the biodiversity of the Kur-Araz rivers' basins and the Caspian Sea, Armenia, as the upstream country, is not a Party to this Convention.
The coalition reminded that Armenia is a Party to the Espoo Convention, which obligates states to inform neighboring countries about economic activities near shared borders and to prepare EIA reports. Armenia committed to providing transboundary EIA reports if the Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant is restored, but has yet to demonstrate accountability concerning environmental impacts.
In light of the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia following the Washington Summit, the coalition sees opportunities for closer cooperation between civil society institutions. They call upon the COP17 Presidency and Leaders' Summit participants to urge Armenia to adopt measurable decisions for protecting transboundary rivers, managing mining activities, establishing monitoring mechanisms, and ensuring public access to environmental data.