From 19–30 October, governments will gather in Yerevan, Armenia, for the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP17). Under the theme Taking Action for Nature, COP17 marks the first global review of implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), an important test of whether international commitments are translating into meaningful action.

For WEDO, the central question is not simply whether countries are making progress, but whose rights, knowledge, and leadership are shaping that progress. Gender equality cannot sit alongside biodiversity policy as a separate consideration. It is fundamental to whether implementation is effective, equitable, and accountable.

As the CBD's Gender Plan of Action reaches its mid-term review, women, gender justice advocates, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities continue to face barriers to accessing the recognition, resources, and decision-making power necessary to advance their work. COP17 is an opportunity to challenge these inequalities and demand that biodiversity action delivers for people and the planet.

WEDO's Priorities at COP17

Turning gender commitments into accountability. 

WEDO will work alongside the CBD Women's Caucus and partners to advance gender-responsive implementation of the KMGBF and its Gender Plan of Action. Through negotiations, technical engagement, and collective advocacy, we will push for accountability, human rights, and gender equality to be central to biodiversity policies, financing, and monitoring. We will also work with partners through the Gender and Environment Data Alliance (GEDA) to strengthen the availability and use of gender-environment data in biodiversity decision-making, implementation and monitoring.

Connecting action across the Rio Conventions. 

The biodiversity, climate, and desertification crises are deeply interconnected, yet the global policy processes addressing them too often operate in isolation. WEDO will advance greater coherence across the Rio Conventions by connecting advocacy around gender equality, finance, adaptation, ecosystem approaches, and just transition to strengthen implementation across all three agendas.

Strengthening women's leadership and influence. 

For the first time, WEDO is expanding its Women Delegates Fund (WDF) programming into the CBD process, hosting an inaugural Night School ahead of COP17. The program will support women negotiators to navigate the CBD’s legal frameworks, delegation dynamics, and negotiating agenda, while building connections with climate and other environmental processes.

Across these efforts, WEDO will continue to elevate gender-just, community-led solutions that demonstrate how environmental protection, human rights, and social justice can be advanced together. COP17 is not only a moment to measure progress. It is an opportunity to push for implementation that shifts power and resources toward those already working to protect biodiversity.

WEDO at COP17: Key Events and Engagements

Alongside our engagement in negotiations and coordination with the CBD Women's Caucus, WEDO will contribute to several discussions and convenings throughout COP17.

16–17 October | Women's Delegates Fund Night School

Ahead of COP17, WEDO will host its inaugural CBD Night School, extending the Women Delegates Fund's capacity-strengthening model beyond the UN climate negotiations. The program will equip women negotiators with knowledge of the CBD's legal frameworks, negotiating agenda, and delegation coordination, while exploring connections across the Rio Conventions.

18–19 October | Advancing Gender-Environment Data

WEDO will join partners in discussions on the role of gender-responsive data in implementing and monitoring biodiversity commitments, including at the Gender and Environment Data Conference on 18 October (8:00 AM–6:00 PM, Conference Room 4 (Parz), 1st Floor, Blue Zone) and a discussion on building gender-responsive biodiversity data systems on 19 October. These engagements will highlight the importance of closing gender data gaps and strengthening evidence-based policies across environmental agendas.

20 October | Feminist Advocacy Across the Rio Conventions

WEDO will convene a discussion exploring opportunities to strengthen feminist advocacy and policy coherence across the biodiversity, climate and desertification conventions. The conversation will examine shared priorities, including gender equality, finance, adaptation and just transition, and opportunities to connect collective advocacy across the three processes.

Time: 15:00–16:00
Location: Women's Hub, CBD COP17

21 October | Celebrating Young Ecofeminist Leadership

Together with partners, WEDO will support the Irene Dankelman Young Ecofeminist Award, recognizing three young grassroots advocates advancing rights-based, inclusive, and community-led environmental action. The award celebrates the leadership, solutions, and perspectives of young ecofeminists and environmental and human rights defenders.

Location: COP17 Green Zone

Event information | Event registration

Green Zone access requires separate public attendee registration.

21–23 October | Advancing Rights-Based and Gender-Just Biodiversity Action

WEDO will contribute to COP17 Gender Day on 21 October, alongside discussions on gender-just solutions, and participate in the Yerevan Roundtable on Rights-Based and Inclusive Conservation Funding on 23 October. These engagements will focus on strengthening the recognition, financing, and leadership of communities advancing equitable biodiversity conservation.